Sikkim campaigners in Delhi to protest hydel project

Activists opposing the Teesta hydel project at Dzongu in North Sikkim district are participating in a three-day mahadharna to New Delhi.

Activists opposing the Teesta hydel project at Dzongu in North Sikkim district are participating in a three-day

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mahadharna

to New Delhi.

Members of Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT), are taking part in the agitation which has been organised by anti-dam activist Medha Patkar's National Alliance for People's Movement (NAPM).

The agitation has been organised to highlight the adverse effects of dams and hydel power projects across the country including those in Sikkim.

ACT has been agitating against Dzongu Hydel Project since June 20, 2007.

Patkar had promised to articulate ACT's demands at the national level.

She had expressed "pain" and "anguish" at the struggle of the indigenous Lepcha people to protect "holy" land and natural resources in Teesta valley.

Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling was charged with ignoring the rightful claims of the local people by deciding to go ahead with the power project during her visit.

Medha, who spearheaded Narmada Bachao Andolan, had questioned the wisdom of the state government to construct 26 hydel projects in the Teesta valley despite the mountainous region being a earthquake-prone zone.