Context
Because of the global energy crisis and depletion of natural resources, there is an acute need for renewable energy sources for every aspect of life. As a result, hydropower is a key renewable energy source, but its development raises complex environmental concerns. Recent incidents in the Teesta river basin in Sikkim and West Bengal have highlighted the challenges and risks associated with these projects.
The Teesta River Basin: A Prime Hydropower Location
Geographical Significance:
The Teesta river, another branch of the Bramaputhra, starts from Tso Lhamo Lake in north Sikkim and flows through the Indian state of West Bengal finally entering Bangladesh. It has a favorable topography to hydropower development and over forty-six projects were planned on the river at the outset. However, only five have been completed, this is in respect to the general challenges that are always associated with the implementation of such projects.
Environmental Risks and Natural Disasters
- Recent Incidents: In August 2024, part of the Teesta-5 hydropower station located in Gangtok area of Sikkim was destroyed by a landslide; and in mid-2023, the Teesta-III dam was badly affected by a glacial burst. These examples show that hydropower facilities are quite sensitive to natural disasters and this is more so where the projects are developed in the fragile zones such as Himachal Pradesh.
- Implications: Hydroelectric has several challenges; its main weakness is that natural calamities have a severe impact on the constructions of these projects, thereby interrupting the power supply and the sustainability of the projects. The Teesta-3 project which was earlier, the biggest project under implementation in the state, suffered a huge capability cut down following the dam failure, which shows that there is urgent need to have structures that can withstand the worst of the natural disasters.
Balancing Economic Benefits with Environmental Risks
- Cost-Cutting Measures and Consequences: One of the major causes of failure of Teesta-3 dam is poor design by the developers who have used low standard materials and designs to reduce the cost of development. This underlines the need for sustainability and safety of the environment while developing and implementing the hydropower projects for instance, maximizing shorter profits and returns of investment without looking at the long-term consequences of the hydropower projects.
- Public Perception and Regulatory Challenges: For instance, hydropower projects are hardly accepted by local communities because of fears that the environment will be degraded and people will have to be evicted. For these challenges, good regulations and transparency are critical measures to be taken to tackle them and regain public confidence.
Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs)
Comprehensive environmental impact assessments are crucial for identifying potential risks, especially in regions prone to natural disasters like the Himalayas. These assessments should include detailed studies on geological stability, ecosystem effects, and disaster risks, ensuring that hydropower projects are designed with sustainability in mind.
Public Trust and Community Engagement
- Building Trust Through Transparency: He concluded, therefore, that for public acceptance to be gained, factors related to the environment and the economy need to be spelled out in hydropower projects. Such measures as providing information on the risks/benefits of the development of the projects, as well as actions to minimize the almost inevitable social implications of large scale ventures strengthens communication and trust with developers, governments and host communities.
- Community Engagement: Communicating with the local people as well as including them in the planning of their projects enhances teamwork since their issues may be heard and tackled beforehand. It becomes easier to have a formula of successful and sustainable project outcomes if the project follows this approach.
Conclusion
While hydropower has many advantages of providing renewable energy in an efficient way, the construction of these plants should be devised considering the negative impacts on the environment. The latter experiences in the Teesta river basin provide a vivid illustration of the need for sound planning, elaborated environmental impact studies, and socially responsible communication with the stakeholders. The focus on the sustainable development of these resources would only see hydropower being used in a beneficial way; for the environment, for the economy and for the people.
Source: The Hindu