Teesta-3 Dam Rebuild: Experts Back Plan After 2023 GLOF
Why in the news
After the glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) of October 2023 destroyed the Teesta-3 dam in Sikkim, a government-appointed expert committee advised rebuilding it. Climate and geological risks in the Himalayas make that advice contested.
The 2023 disaster
- Water from South Lhonak lake burst out after a moraine slope failed.
- Over 100 people died and 80,000 were displaced across four districts.
- Landslides and sediment movement worsened damage downstream.
Warming link
- Glaciers melt faster because of warming and black carbon (soot).
- Glacial lakes: up 10.8% in number and 33.7% in area (2011-2024), so GLOFs are likelier.
- Current models cannot predict extreme climate events well, and ignore sediment transport and bank failure.
Risks of rebuilding
- Teesta-3 2.0: concrete-only dam, bigger spillway, early warning system.
- Climate change multiplies risk; a different flood could still overtop it.
- Landslides and earthquakes add to vulnerability.
- Earlier legal challenges questioned its environmental and fiscal compliance.
Way forward
- Human safety and environment must outrank financial returns; budget for disaster preparedness.
- Offer social protection to affected communities.
- Some experts argue that retreating from hazard-prone areas is the lasting solution.
Exam angle
- Event: GLOF at Teesta-3, October 2023; source lake: South Lhonak.
- Terms: GLOF, moraine, black carbon.