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28th January 2025 (10 Topics)

Teesta Dam: Safety First

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Context

In October 2023, a glacial flood devastated four districts of Sikkim, resulting in over 40 deaths and the destruction of a 60-meter-high dam of the Teesta-III hydropower project. A year later, the Environment Ministry’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) approved a proposal for a new 118-meter-high dam, raising concerns about the safety, design approval, and local consultation regarding the project.

Concerns Regarding the New Dam Proposal

  • Lack of Safety Clearances: The approval for the new dam by the EAC has raised alarms due to the lack of clearance from key safety authorities like the Central Water Commission, Geological Survey, and Central Soil and Materials Research Station. The project's design has yet to be properly vetted for its safety, leaving critical questions unanswered.
  • Failure to Address Local Concerns: The proposal has not undergone a public hearing, which is essential for ensuring that the concerns of the local population are taken into account. Local opposition to such projects due to their environmental and social impact underscores the need for proper consultations.
  • Unresolved Safety Concerns Post-Disaster: The EAC approved the new dam despite concerns about its ability to withstand potential glacial lake floods and the force of floodwaters. Given the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters, the hasty approval raises questions about whether enough safeguards are in place to prevent a recurrence of the 2023 disaster.

History and Environmental Implications of the Project

  • Ecological and Safety Concerns of Teesta III: The Teesta-III hydropower project has faced ongoing criticism since its inception, primarily due to its environmental impact on the Eastern Himalayas, an area prone to natural disasters. Concerns regarding its safety, particularly in the event of earthquakes, landslides, and climate change-induced flooding, have been raised by hydrologists and environmentalists.
  • Impact on Local Communities and Ecosystem: The project’s construction involves significant alteration of the region’s natural landscape, including mountains, forests, and rivers. This has led to opposition from local communities who are concerned about the long-term ecological consequences of such infrastructure projects.
  • Disastrous Track Record of Teesta III: The Teesta-III project has experienced significant delays and cost overruns, taking over 12 years to complete and exceeding its budget by more than two-and-a-half times. The failure of the dam in 2023 highlighted the shortcomings of the project, proving early assessments wrong regarding the risks posed by glacial lake floods.

Recommendations and Conclusion

  • Stringent Safety Measures for Mountain Infrastructure: Given the vulnerability of infrastructure in mountainous regions, especially those located near rivers and water bodies, it is essential that such projects adhere to the highest safety standards. The failure of the Teesta-III dam demonstrates the need for more rigorous assessments of risks like glacial lake floods.
  • Caution in Approving Future Projects: The Environment Ministry must ensure that the lessons learned from the 2023 flood are applied before approving further developments. A cautious and well-considered approach is necessary to prevent future disasters and safeguard both the local population and the environment.
  • Thorough Evaluation and Public Consultation: Before moving forward with the Teesta-III dam or any similar projects, thorough safety evaluations and public hearings must be conducted to ensure that all potential risks are accounted for and that the concerns of local communities are addressed.
Practice Question:

Q. Examine the safety concerns surrounding the Teesta-III hydropower project and the recent approval for the construction of a new dam in its place. Discuss the importance of stringent safety measures and public consultation in the context of infrastructure projects in disaster-prone regions like the Eastern Himalayas.

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