After Narmada, it is Teesta’s turn to flock protesters objecting to the building of a hydroelectric dam on the river. Without listening to their grievances, the government of Sikkim has warned hunger strikers of action if they do not give up their 40-day-old fast.

Gandhi ji’s weapon of hunger strike has become a potent mode of protesting against injustice and what not. The government’s proposal of constructing a huge dam on the Teesta forced the Lepcha and the Bhutia tribes inhabiting the region known to be their special reserve, to go on hunger strike. However, the protesters in the ever-calm Sikkim can face trouble if they persisted with their protests against construction of the hydro-electric project(HEP). The government is reluctant to give up the project stating economic losses as the reason.

Neither the government nor the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) are willing to forego their claims. ACT making use of its last weapon has requested the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) appointed by the Supreme Court for the purpose, for immediate stay on any act of the government in this regard.

Of late, we have been witness to similar protests by the affected people against construction of huge projects, be it a dam or a factory or a power plant. The protesters claim constructing such projects would steal their only mode of income and displace them, ruining their living. And governments on the other hand already lured by the prospective billions of rupees that would flow in, cite development of the regions as the urgent need of the day to go on with the projects.

If development is so essential for the region or the state, then isn’t the livelihood of the affected people important? Why is it that such people are always left to suffer for no fault of theirs? Need of the day is a planned framework of things to follow if we want development and prosperity go side by side.

Image1

Image2

Image3

Via: BBC