Reconstruction of Teesta-III Dam

Prelims Bits

Context

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has approved the reconstruction of the Teesta-III hydroelectric project’s dam in Sikkim, following its destruction due to a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in October 2023. Despite environmental concerns, the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) sanctioned the project without requiring a fresh public hearing, as no additional land acquisition or displacement is involved.

Teesta-III Hydroelectric Project

• Location: Situated on the Teesta River in Sikkim.
• Capacity: Originally designed as a 1,200 MW hydroelectric project.
• Damage & Reconstruction:
  • The original dam, a 60-meter-high concrete rockfill structure, was destroyed.
  • The replacement dam will be a 118.64-meter-high concrete gravity structure, offering enhanced strength and resilience.

About the Teesta River

• Origin: The Pahunri (Teesta Kangse) Glacier in the Eastern Himalayas, Sikkim.
• Course:
  • Flows southward through Sikkim and West Bengal.
  • Crosses into Bangladesh, where it merges with the Brahmaputra River (locally known as the Jamuna).
• Major Tributaries:
  • Rangpo River
  • Rangit River
  • Great Rangit River