Mukesh Sharma

Kalimpong,10th Dec

Surveyors of proposed Low Dam Project on the areas adjacent to river Teesta had to leave the site following protests by angry locals against projects today.

Since the last few days, preliminary survey work was underway at Rangit River for the construction of proposed Teesta Low Dam I & II HE project which is about half a kilometer from Triveni, the merging point of Rangit river with Teesta river.

Locals today, adamant that they would not allow any Hydel project to be constructed did not allow
the survey team to work after which the team complained to the Teesta check post of the same.

Later, the protesters gathered outside the check post after which Kalimpong Police IC along with Officer-in- Charge of different posts along National Highway (NH) 10 visited the spot.

Speaking to media persons, resident of Teesta Bazar, Mr Vishal Rai said, “We do not want to see more devastation. The existing dam at 27th Mile in Triveni has only added to our problems since the last decade. The concerned project site residents were promised several things but their houses were demolished, 500 query workers lost their livelihood and white river rafting which was a major tourism attraction is on the verge of shutting down.

“The compensation that they were given is not enough, we do not want to suffer the same fate.”
“We will sit for a village level meeting to decide upon further course of action,” informed Mr Rai.
Later, agitated masses visited Kalimpong administration and expressed their concerns.

Administrative sources said that the survey work will not be stopped and have appealed the masses
to give a written application highlighting their concerns.

It is to be noted here that state chief minister Mamata Banerjee during her visit in Kalimpong on September 2014 had announced construction of four Hydel projects in Darjeeling district with a total capacity of 293 MW.

These projects were 84 MW Teesta intermediate HE project, 81MW Teesta Low Dam I & II HE project, 48 MW Rammam HE project stage-I and 80 MW Teesta Low Dam-V HE project respectively.

The proposed Hydel project will be in between the two valleys of West Bengal and Sikkim.
It is to be constructed along Jorethang Road of Sikkim on one end and road connecting Kalimpong to Darjeeling via Jorebunglow on the other end.