GANGTOK, Dec 3: The Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT), Sikkim, Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur and the Borok Peoples Human Rights Organization, Tripura organized the ‘North East India meet on Free Flowing Rivers’ at Gangtok on November 29-30.
The regional meeting was attended by participants from Sikkim, Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, and Darjeeling Hills, West Bengal.
The participants deliberated on the importance of free flowing rivers as a source of life, identity and culture of indigenous peoples in North East India. The participants also dwelled on the intrinsic survival and cultural relationship of indigenous peoples and their self-determined development over their rivers, forest and land.
The participants took serious note of the bursting of the 1200 Mw Teesta-III dam, Chungthang on October 4 that led to a massive disaster, loss of lives and destruction of properties and the “continued unaccountability of the dam project authorities and government”. The participants called for decommission of the Teesta-III dam and to stop building the proposed 520 Mw Teesta-IV hydroelectric project in Dzongu, North Sikkim, the release mentions.
At the meet, the participants adopted the Teesta Declaration, which resolved that the government should ensure the free and unhindered flow of all rivers in Sikkim and across North East India, and to recognize the rights of river to flow free. The resolutions continued that the government should stop building large dams in North East India due to fragile biodiversity, high seismicity, increased disaster, climate change and myriad social and environment impacts.
It was also resolved that the government should stop the classification and pursuance of large hydroelectric project as green, clean, renewable energy and climate friendly solutions, and to stop plans to 3097 Mw Etalin dam in Arunachal Pradesh, 190 Mw Pabram Dam in Manipur etc., in North East India. No more dams in Sikkim and Himalayan region, said the Teesta Declaration.
The participants also resolved that the government should promote sustainable and just energy solution and feasible alternatives in close consultation and rightful participation of all communities across North East India. 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
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