Congress Opposes Teesta-III Hydropower Project Approval
NEW DELHI: Following concerns raised by the BJP Sikkim unit, Congress has also voiced its opposition to the recent approval granted by a central panel to resume construction of the Teesta-III hydropower project. Congress termed the approval a “thoughtless clearance,” highlighting the persistent disaster threats at the dam site.
Jairam Ramesh, Congress General Secretary and former Environment Minister, emphasized the downstream impacts, stating, “There are cascading and multiplying effects on habitations downstream.” He reiterated concerns raised in a detailed statement issued on August 24, 2024.
The party recalled the devastating glacial lake outburst floods that had previously impacted the Teesta-III project in October 2023. Congress has been vocal about the ecological implications of hydropower projects in sensitive regions, arguing that these developments are taking place without adequate consideration of their cumulative environmental impacts.
Environmental Concerns and Call for Reviews
The BJP Sikkim president, D R Thapa, had earlier appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the immediate withholding of the green panel’s approval until comprehensive scientific reviews, including a revised Probable Maximum Flood study, are conducted. He stressed the necessity for a fresh and thorough Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to address recent climate data and evolving ecological challenges.
On January 10, the expert panel conditionally approved amendments to the green clearance for the 1,200 MW Teesta-III project. Notably, one of the amendments involves redesigning the dam, transitioning from a ‘concrete faced rockfill dam’ to a ‘concrete gravity dam.’ However, the panel mandated that all necessary permissions from Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and Central Water Commission (CWC) must be obtained before construction can commence.
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