BJP & Congress: Time to work together

Two big political parties in India—BJP and Congress—usually fight with each other. But this time, they agree on something important: stopping the rush to rebuild the Teesta-III hydropower project in Sikkim.

What Happened to Teesta-III?

In 2023, a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) destroyed the Teesta-III dam. This disaster showed that the risks weren’t properly studied before building it. There was no strong plan to handle floods, and because of this mistake:

• 50 people lost their lives
• 80,000 people lost their homes
• The economy lost thousands of crores

Now, the government wants to rebuild the dam, but without explaining how they will avoid another disaster.

Why This is Dangerous

Sikkim and other northeastern states are in Zone V, the highest-risk earthquake zone. This means they are already prone to natural disasters. On top of that, climate change is melting Himalayan glaciers faster, increasing the chances of more floods.

And that’s not the only issue. China is building a massive dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet. China says it won’t harm India, but it’s hard to trust that claim. A huge dam like that could change the water flow for India and cause problems in the future.

What Should Happen?

For years, both BJP and Congress have pushed hydro projects without proper risk assessment. This time, they should stop and ask: Will rebuilding Teesta-III make things worse? Instead of arguing, the two parties should join forces to protect the Northeast from climate disasters.

Some fights in politics are necessary. But this time, BJP and Congress should fight together—to stop a dangerous decision before it’s too late.

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