Environment ministry panel suggests tweaking green nod for Teesta project wrecked in '23 flood

NEW DELHI: An expert appraisal committee of the Union environment ministry has recommended an amendment in the conditions for environmental clearance for the Teesta Hydroelectric Project Stage-III (1200 MW) by Sikkim Urja Limited, granting it the go-ahead to resume operations.

- Jayashree Nandi

The project in Mangan district was destroyed following a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in October 2023 that washed away the dam and flooded the underground powerhouse, halting its operations.

The disaster meant that the plant needed a fresh design, which in turn necessitated a fresh clearance.

Sikkim Urja Limited, which runs the plant, in its application for the clearance said that the amendment "is requested" to ensure the project is brought back "in operation at the earliest".

"The water conductor system is mostly unaffected in the (2023) flash flood, hence, other than the dam most of the components can be restored in a year's time. As most of the components would be ready in a year, there is a case for restoring the dam and bringing back the Project in operation at the earliest for which EC amendment is requested," the application by Sikkim Urja Limited said.

The amendment includes changing from a concrete-faced rockfill dam to a concrete gravity dam, a design tweak that would accommodate the safe release of water in the event of larger floods.

Around 265 families will be relocated as part of the new design.

While the project has been recommended for renewed operations with several environmental conditions, minutes of EAC's January 10 meeting show that a comprehensive study for identification of potential threats due to glacial lakes has been carried out.