Gangtok: Activists from the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) began a multi-day trek across Sikkim this week. They are demanding better protection for the Teesta River and a full review of massive hydropower developments. The group wants local voices to steer future decisions about the river.
ACT General Secretary Gyatso Lepcha is leading the march during the monsoon season. This is when the state faces its highest risk of landslides and floods. Participants are walking through various villages while carrying signs that read Save Teesta and Our rivers, our responsibility. They have already logged 11 kilometres on their route. "ACT was always in action. This monsoon is the right time for us to meet the Teesta River community, both upstream and downstream," Lepcha said.
The group plans to visit Makha, Singtam, Rangpo, and Melli over the next few days. They will hold meetings in these towns to talk about disaster planning and sustainable growth. Lepcha turned his attention to the disaster at the NHPC Teesta Stage VI project, where 25 people died. He called the tragedy a gross violation of human rights. He insists that all environmental and social impact assessments for the site need a fresh start before any work continues.
The activists claim that the state and central governments prioritize dams over people. They point to the slow reconstruction efforts after the 2023 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood as proof. While power infrastructure gets fixed, local roads remain broken. ACT has fought against these projects for nearly two decades. They maintain that heavy tunneling and large dams threaten the fragile Himalayan ecosystem and the rights of indigenous residents.
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