Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Gangtok: The Sikkim High Court hit the brakes on IRCON and its contractors. They cannot dump mud or debris from the Sevok-Rangpo railway project into the Teesta River. A division bench of Chief Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque and Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradhan issued the order to protect the river from obstruction and potential flooding.
The move follows a Public Interest Litigation, WP(PIL) No. 09 of 2026, filed by residents of Melli Bazar in Namchi district. Locals claim excavated waste has altered the river's path and pushed water toward Sikkim. The court reviewed a report submitted by the District Legal Services Authority Secretary on October 3, which followed a site inspection ordered on September 7, 2026.
Officials must act. The Namchi District Collector must ensure all construction material goes to authorized sites rather than the riverbed. The court ordered the Collector to investigate if the river flow was damaged and suggest fixes. The District Collector and the State Pollution Control Board are now respondents in the case.
Petitioners want more than just a stop to the dumping. They are pushing for protective walls and an expert committee of hydrologists and environmental engineers to evaluate the damage. They also cited the Polluter Pays principle. "The petitioners have sought the removal of dumped material, construction of protective walls, and the formation of an expert committee comprising hydrologists and environmental engineers to assess the situation."
The Collector must submit a report within three weeks. The court will resume the hearing on November 17, 2026.
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