The indigenous Lepcha community people are strongly opposing the second largest in the Nation proposed Teesta Stage 4 hydropower project in North Sikkim. The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) is reported of planning to proceed with the project despite opposition from the people of the downstream areas. Lepcha community members fear that their livelihood, land, culture and the fragile Himalayan ecology will be jeopardised if the dam becomes a reality.
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A series of dams has already been built by the State-run NHPC in the River Teesta. The Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) has been fronting movements against the dams in Teesta and its tributaries. The ACT organisation that consists of the affected people of the Teesta flow area, has restarted the campaign against the dams. Gyatso Lepcha the ACT general secretary is demands to erase the Teesta Stage 4 project, which if implemented gives negative impact on people living in the Teesta basin. The river flow is directly related to the fragile ecology of the Sikkim Himalayas and it has to be preserved to avoid any negative implications.
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The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee has also demands to stop of all dam activities on the Teesta and Rangit rivers. The damage or change in the river would directly affect the life and culture of the indigenous tribal communities of Sikkim. This will have negative impact on the people directly or indirectly dependent on the rivers and its tributaries for their livelihood.
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