Kanchanjunga National Park falls prey to hydel projects

SAVING THE DAY: 22 of the projects are planned in Sikkim and local people are protesting.

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Kanchanjunga National Park: The Kanchanjunga National Park is a treasure trove of flora and fauna but the entire area close to Mount Kanchejunga is under threat from the Hydel power projects planned on the Teesta river.

Twenty-two of the projects are planned in Sikkim and local people are protesting.

"It's ecologically sensitive and within a kilometre of the national park and it's really dangerous,” said a resident of Dzongu, Daya Lepcha.

Once the projects are through, people fear that it's going to destroy this important bird area, life in the forests and also the age-old traditions.

"If this happens, then everything goes including the green cover and then we will have to move out of here. Yes, eventually that will happen,” said another resident of Dzongu, Pema Lepcha.

Look what's happening inside the forest: there is not even a drop of water in a river that otherwise be flowing in July.

The government, though, believes that the flow of life would be unaffected and in their support they have a no-objection certificate.

"As per the report and the clearances that we have obtained from the Government of India, there is no environmental violation and the projects near the national park have been found to be quite viable,” said Secretary, IPR, Sikkim, G K Kiran.

So as the river roars on and the flags keep fluttering, all the national park and the vanishing tribe of the lepchas can do is pray and hope that environmental clearances do not unleash destruction on the magnificent river, the green forests and the mighty mountains.