Teesta Matters to Me: ACT begins four-day foot march across North Sikkim

A group of affected residents from the Teesta belt has begun a four-day foot march titled Teesta Matters to Me with the aim of highlighting river rights and how development should proceed in the Eastern Himalayas. On 24 July 2026, the march started from Dzongu, with the first day planned to end after the route from Dzongu to Mangan.

ACT, or Affected Citizens of Teesta, describes the march as more than a protest. The organisers frame it as a way to draw attention to the Teesta’s role in local landscapes, cultures and livelihoods, and to encourage a different way of looking at projects in an ecologically sensitive mountain region.

Route and planned ceremonial closure

After the first day, marchers are expected to continue through Rangpo and Melli as part of the multi-day journey. The four-day walk is set to conclude at Triveni, the confluence of the Teesta and Rangit rivers. A traditional Lepcha ritual is described as the closing event at the end of the march.

Demands focus on hydropower and new impact studies

ACT has repeatedly raised specific demands over nearly two decades. These include the removal of proposed hydropower projects: the 520 MW Teesta Stage IV project by NHPC and a 280 MW Panan Hydroelectric Project in Dzongu. The group also asks for fresh Environmental Impact Assessments for all existing hydropower projects along the Teesta.

Another key demand is the declaration of the Teesta–Rongyong stretch in Dzongu as a River Sanctuary, citing the area’s ecological importance, including butterfly diversity mentioned by the organisers. ACT also raises concerns linked to the Teesta Stage VI disaster, questioning accountability and emphasising the rights of communities that say they face long-term effects from large-scale hydropower development.