Sikkim: Chungthang residents point fingers at former CM for Teesta dam disaster, says promises unfulfilled

Former Panchayat head and resident of Chungthang has expressed his deep resentment towards the former state government for building the Teesta Urja dam, which they claim has led to huge damage to their land and severe property loss. The Panchayat head said that they were lured by unfulfilled promises made by former Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and they now find themselves dealing with the devastating aftermath.

The construction of the Teesta Urja project, was a contentious issue from the beginning. The residents initially raised their voices in protest, but the former government offered enticing assurances to garner their support. The promises included providing employment to 60 percent of the unemployed population, constructing houses for the locals from the Chief Minister's fund, offering free electricity, and ensuring insurance coverage for the village people.

In retrospect, the former Panchayat head and the residents now feel betrayed by the false pledges of Pawan Chamling. Despite their initial opposition, they reluctantly gave the project a green light based on the promises of improved living conditions and economic opportunities for the community.

The panchayat head said, "We believed Pawan Chamling's words and thought that the dam would bring prosperity to our region. It's 2023 now, and we haven't received any houses, insurance or any of the benefits that were promised. Instead, we've witnessed flash floods caused by the dam resulting in a tragedy."

The flash floods, triggered by a cloudburst in the Teesta River on October 4, 2023, wreaked havoc in Sikkim. An estimated 88,000 individuals were affected by the disaster, highlighting the dire consequences of the dam's construction in a state with the lowest population among all Indian states, as per the 2011 census.

In contrast, the panchayat head and the residents of Chungthang now express their gratitude to Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang for addressing their grievances and offering assistance in the wake of the disaster.