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Teesta Hydro Project
Context
A glacier lake outburst flood in Sikkim devastated the Teesta-3 hydropower dam, killing at least 100 people. Fourteen months after the disaster, an expert committee of the Environment Ministry recommended rebuilding the dam, with improvements in its design and safety systems.
What Happened (Background)?
- The Sikkim Urja Limited-run Teesta Stage-3 dam (Teesta III hydroelectric project), one of the biggest hydropower dams in India with 1,200 MW electricity generation capacity, was entirely wiped out by last year’s devastating glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF).
- The GLOF was triggered by an ice avalanche at South Lhonak Lake, leading to severe floods.
- The Teesta-3 dam collapsed due to the failure to open the flood gates in time during the flood.
- This resulted in a massive outflow of water, debris, and muck.
- Although the power equipment was largely intact, the structural failure led to the loss of life and damage to the surrounding areas.
- The government and the project developers, Sikkim Urja Limited (SUL), have now proposed to reconstruct the dam with a stronger design and an enhanced early warning system.
Key Issues and Concerns:
- Environmental Risks: The region where the Teesta-III dam is located is prone to floods and landslides. Local communities had warned about the risks, but the project still went ahead.
- Glacial lakes in the Himalayas are growing due to climate change, increasing the risk of such floods.
- Questionable Financing: Financial institutions like banks and development agencies funded the dam despite knowing the risks. This raises the question of whether these institutions considered the environmental dangers when deciding to invest.
- Lack of Accountability: Financial institutions, insurance companies, and investors have not been held responsible for the damage caused by their investments. Public money has been used, but there’s no accountability for the risks taken.
- Environmental Impact of Hydropower Projects: Despite causing environmental harm, hydropower projects are often labeled as "green" energy projects, which critics say ignores the ecological damage and displacement they cause.
About the Teesta River
|
PYQQ. With reference to river Teesta, consider the following statements: (2017)
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Solution: b |
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