ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the historic struggle led by Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) against the dams on the Teesta in Sikkim. It explains how numerous projects adversely affect the ecosystem, livelihoods, religion, cultural identity and political rights of the people and violate the sacred landscape which has been an important cause of discontent. The Central Electricity Authority, after its 2001 preliminary ranking study of the hydroelectric potential of river basins in India, launched a hydropower initiative to produce 50,000 megawatt of electricity. The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) is responsible for the most recent cases of neglect of the local population, when it executed Rangit River Hydroelectric Power Project and the Teesta Hydroelectric Power Project Stage V. The detrimental impact of projects on political rights of the people has not been addressed at all. The environmental and social impact assessment studies do not reflect the possible law and order implications of a mega project in a sensitive border region.
