Demanding the conservation of the Teesta River and a re-evaluation of hydroelectric projects, a four-day, nearly 80-kilometer-long rally carrying the slogan "Teesta Matters to Me"—which started on Friday from Phedang, Dzongu in North Sikkim—concluded on Monday at the confluence of the Teesta and Rangeet rivers in Triveni, West Bengal. The rally was organized by the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT).
During the march, members of the ndigenous Lepcha Tribal Association, Kalimpong, warmly welcomed the rally participants at Chitre. They subsequently joined the campaign and proceeded via Teesta Bazar toward Triveni. However, because the devastating 2023 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) had washed away the road leading all the way to Triveni, the formal conclusion of the march took place slightly ahead of the confluence point.
At the event, Bungthing and Mun (female shaman) from the Lepcha community who came from Sikkim and Kalimpong performed special ritual prayers at the Teesta–Rangeet confluence in accordance with traditional Lepcha religious customs.
Rumden Lepcha, General Secretary of the Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association, Kalimpong, stated that the Lepcha community views the Teesta and Rangeet rivers as divine and holds deep spiritual faith in them. Noting the religious belief within the community that after death, souls travel along the river paths to reach their ancestors, he emphasized that river conservation is directly linked to their culture, religion, and very existence.
Meanwhile, a team including West Sikkim activist Praveen Upreti also joined the rally. Speaking to media personnel at the confluence, he highlighted the vital importance of the Teesta and Rangeet rivers to Sikkim and explained how their destruction inflicts severe harm on the state.
ACT has been voicing opposition against the under-construction and proposed mega-hydroelectric projects on the Teesta River for 19 years. According to the organization, this campaign is not merely a protest against any single project, but aims to highlight the urgent need for Teesta River conservation, environmental protection, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development in the Himalayan region. The organizers stated that through the march, a message was conveyed on the necessity of uniting riverbank communities to take collective initiatives for the protection of the Teesta River.
