Sikkim becomes full-fledged member of Brahmaputra Board, activist fears renewed dam push

KUNAL RAI

GANGTOK,: Sikkim has officially become a full-fledged member of the Brahmaputra Board after 46 years of the statutory body’s existence, with the State submitting proposals worth around Rs. 300 crore for river protection, irrigation and flood management projects, minister Sonam Lama said on Friday.

Lama, who heads the State Water Resources and River Development department, thanked Union Jal Shakti minister C.R. Patil, Minister of State for Jal Shakti and the chairman of Brahmaputra Board for including Sikkim as member of the Board.

“The Board has existed since the 1980s, and Sikkim was not made a member until recently. The previous government, due to lack of knowledge about the Board or negligence, did not pay heed to the Board. It was only after the SKM government came to power for a second term in 2024 that we actively pursued the matter and Sikkim officially became a full-fledged member, along with West Bengal,” Lama told Sikkim Express.

He said that after assuming charge of the department, he directed secretary to attend a Brahmaputra Board meeting in Kalimpong and formally request inclusion of Sikkim as a member State.

Lama said the decision was finalised during the Board’s meeting on May 8, adding that Sikkim had earlier attended meetings only as a “special guest”.

During the meeting, Lama said, Sikkim submitted a proposal along with a detailed project report (DPR) to the Boardfollowing which the board has sanctioned projects worth more than Rs. 250 crore.

“We have further requested additional funds, taking the total proposal amount to around Rs. 300 crore, considering the implementation and success of the proposed projects,” he said. “We are sure the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Brahmaputra Board will consider our request.”

The DPR mainly focuses on development of small irrigation canals, construction of protection walls in areas vulnerable to floods and landslides, and the protection walls along the rivers, which Lama said, is the main plan proposed.

Referring to the October 2023 Teesta flash floods, which caused extensive damage to lives and property in riverfront areas, the minister highlighted the need for long-term protection measures.

He said all projects were prepared by State engineers and officials keeping in view Sikkim’s ecological fragility and geographical conditions.

Lama also said that no discussions on hydropower projects took place during the recent Board meeting.

The Brahmaputra Board is a statutory body under India's Ministry of Jal Shakti. Established in 1980, it is headquartered in Guwahati, Assam and is responsible for managing floods, controlling riverbank erosion, and preparing multi-purpose master plans across the North Eastern States including Sikkim and parts of West Bengal.

Meanwhile, river activist Gyatso Lepcha raised concerns over Sikkim’s inclusion in the Board, alleging that the move could lead to renewed pressure for hydropower expansion on the Teesta and its tributaries.

“This is a major concern because the Board has historically pushed for more dams in other States like Manipur and Tripura. Teesta is ecologically different and cannot be treated in the same way as Brahmaputra,” Lepcha said.

He said Sikkim had already been facing an ecological crisis linked to river projects and warned against reviving proposals such as the Teesta Stage IV Hydropower Project.

“Sikkim has been facing an ecological crisis on the river for the last one and a half decades. I hope the Government of Sikkim will rethink and reconsider being part of this board, because with this board, there will be more pressure on the government to push for more hydroelectric projects on Teesta and its tributaries. There have always been efforts to push for this, but looking at today’s climate crisis and the ecological situation, I do not think nature will allow it.”

Lepcha also stressed the transboundary significance of the Teesta, noting that the river flows through multiple States before entering Bangladesh.

“Teesta does not flow only through Sikkim; it flows down to other States and eventually reaches Bangladesh. Geopolitically, Teesta is very important for India because there have always been controversies around Teesta water sharing, especially in discussions involving Bangladesh, the Government of India and the Government of West Bengal.

Lepcha added thatwith inclusion of Sikkim as Brahmaputra Board member, the Government of India would exercise greater control over Teesta.

“For us, this is not just a political issue. It is about humanity and river communities.Every river community has a right to live with the river and sustain their livelihoods as they have done for generations,” Lepcha stated.