Effects of Rammam hydel project

Darjeeling (Rimbik): In front of us, an ambitious 700 crore Rammam hydel project and other side of it, tremendous negative impact faced by the local inhabitants. In the village of Dilpali, near Rimbik, 74 houses are most likely under the landslides zone. The portion of Dilpali village has already been affected by landslide and further damages are expected in this rainy season. So far, 13 houses are completely destroyed by landslides in this village. People are living in these areas with fear and uncertainty.

People started pointing out to Rammam hydel project (RHP), primary cause for huge landslides in the Rimbik regions. Most of the agricultural lands have been affected by RHP.

The ‘mass petition’ was submitted to office of Agriculture Soil Conservation in 2005 but nothing has been done in this regards by the concerned departments or government of West Bengal.

Tabun village, near to Dilpali village, half of its land already affected by landslides. Mr. Tshring Lepcha, local inhabitant of Tabun Busty, 65 decimals of his land has already been damaged by landslides and his remaining lands are being transformed into unsuitable for agriculture. There are several other local inhabitants are facing the same problems as Mr. Tshring Lepcha.

Rimbik – Lodhoma regions, rich in spring water, now turning into dry areas, the most affected areas are: ‘Dilpali village’, ‘Fhorbai’, ‘Lhampate’, ‘Lekrebung’, ‘Tubung’, ‘Basbote’, ‘Lingsebung’, ‘Namla’, ‘Fatingtar’ etc,. People from these areas are suffering a huge drinking water problem, they are compelled to bring water from the distant of 5-6 km away from their homes, as source of spring water of their areas are completely dried-up because of artificial canal and tunnel made by RHP.

Diocesan Board of Social Service, Rimbik cluster, has come out with the voices of local people and the awareness campaign. The Social Group is associating with the problems of local people. Recently under the initiative of this Social Group, the programme “peoples’ verdict” was organised, which was successful, though the higher authorities from concerned departments failed to attend the programme. The programme intensively discussed about the rights and protection of lands, rights of common people etc.