The recent recommendation by the Environment Ministry’s expert appraisal committee (EAC) to reconstruct the Teesta-III dam in Sikkim raises serious concerns about the priorities governing the country’s infrastructure development. The 2023 glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) that destroyed the previous dam should have been a moment for reflection—a wake-up call to reconsider the risks of large-scale hydropower projects in an ecologically fragile region. Instead, less than 15 months later, the same project is being revived, albeit with a structurally modified design. This decision not only undermines the principles of sustainable development but also poses long-term dangers to the region’s people and environment.
The dam’s reconstruction plan has moved forward despite major safety concerns remaining unaddressed. The EAC’s own earlier apprehensions about the structure’s ability to withstand glacial floods should have been reason enough to halt the project until a thorough reassessment was conducted. According to reports, the Central Water Commission, the Geological Survey of India, and the Central Soil and Materials Research Station have not yet cleared the dam’s design. Furthermore, no public hearing has been held to assess local concerns, sidelining the voices of those who will bear the brunt of another disaster.
Hydropower has long been touted as a clean and economically viable source of energy, and Teesta-III was considered a commercially successful project before the disaster. However, the broader question is whether economic viability should come at the cost of environmental security and human lives. The Eastern Himalayas are already vulnerable to seismic activities, landslides, and climate change-induced glacial melt. By persisting with mega hydel projects without factoring in these threats, the government risks repeating the same mistakes.
The failure of Teesta-III in 2023 is not an isolated case. In 2014, the National Hydropower Corporation dismissed concerns about glacial lake overflows. The tragic events of 2023 proved them wrong. If anything, this should have led to a reevaluation of hydropower strategies in the region. The argument that a new, higher, and stronger dam will prevent future catastrophes ignores the fundamental risks of building infrastructure in one of the world’s most ecologically sensitive zones.
Sikkim’s economic development is of utmost priority, but it must not come at the cost of its environmental security. The reconstruction of Teesta-III without comprehensive safety measures and public accountability is a step in the wrong direction. Sustainable development demands a balance between economic growth and environmental protection. The government must reconsider this project, conduct independent safety assessments, and explore alternative energy solutions that do not endanger lives. If the lessons of 2023 are ignored, history may repeat itself—with even graver consequences.