Sikkim, India, which was severely damaged by a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in 2023.
Devastating Flood: The original 1,200 MW Teesta-III dam was largely destroyed in October 2023 by a massive flood triggered by a GLOF from the South Lhonak Lake. This event highlighted the vulnerability of infrastructure in high-altitude areas to climate change-related disasters.
Reconstruction Approved: Despite safety concerns and warnings from experts, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has approved the reconstruction of the dam. This decision has sparked controversy and raised questions about the long-term viability of such projects in disaster-prone regions.
New Design: The reconstructed dam will be a 118.64-meter-tall concrete gravity dam, a significant upgrade from the previous 60-meter-tall concrete-faced rockfill dam. The new design aims to make the structure more resilient to future floods and potential GLOF events.
Increased Spillway Capacity: The spillway capacity of the dam is being significantly increased to handle larger volumes of water. This is in response to the massive flood that washed away the original dam and is intended to prevent a similar catastrophe in the future.
Environmental Concerns: The reconstruction of the Teesta-III dam has raised serious environmental concerns. Experts have warned about the increased risk of future GLOFs in the region and the potential impact of the dam on the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. There are also concerns about the cumulative impact of multiple hydropower projects on the Teesta River and its surrounding environment.
