Dimapur, June 29 (MExN): Expressing deep solidarity with the Affected Citizen of Teesta (ACT), an anti dam lobby in Sikkim, the Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD) said that the proposed several mega dams on the Teesta River in Sikkim is a serious threat to the survival of the Indigenous Peoples of the region.
A press release received here from the CCDD, while extending full support and solidarity to the indefinite hunger called by the affected people of Dzongu led by the Affected Citizen of Teesta (ACT), stated that the ACT has taken the strong decision to intensify their campaign as a result of consistent denial by the State Government to the repeated appeal by the people of Sikkim against the arbitrary sanctioning of several mega hydel power projects in the protected area of Dzongu in North Sikkim by the State Government and NHPC.
The hunger striker of ACT, who have been continuing with their protests in front of the BL house for the past seven days, are demanding the stopping of the projects planned in Dzongu and review all other several dam projects along the Teesta River in Sikkim.
The CCDD also alleged that the state government systematically violated the rights of the people by not asking or obtaining the consent of the people when planning the projects.
“This indeed is a serious threat to the survival of the Indigenous Peoples of the region,” added the release.
The State Government of Sikkim and NHPC since 1970’s have been attempting to construct series of 10 mega dams at several parts of the Teesta River along the parts of Sikkim.
In this regard, the CCDD observed that such construction will not only destroy precious fauna and flora wealth of the earth, but will also take away the Indigenous Peoples’ land and territory by submerging vast track of land, forest, farmlands, spiritual and cultural sites etc with water.
In this connection, the CCDD reiterated their strong stand for halting the construction of several dams on the Teesta River in Sikkim and ‘numerous dams coming up in Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Tripura, Nagaland and Mizoram’, saying that it is the people’s call for stopping all such construction because of the environmental, social, spiritual, cultural, human rights, ecological annihilation that these dams will cause to the peoples of this region.
The CCDD resolved to support and strengthen their stand against unjust development projects and to protect the democratic inherent rights of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights.
The Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD), a platform in India’s North East, that has been spearheading the struggles against the construction of unsustainable dam projects like Mapithel Dam, Loktak Multipurpose Project, proposed Tipaimukh HEP and several other small and large dams in Manipur. One of its major activities has been to create awareness and sensitize the general public against the promotion and development of unsustainable forms of development and dams.
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