The Teesta river begins at Cho Lhamu, bordering Tibet at an altitude of 5,330 m (17,500 feet) . This lake lies to the north of the Donkia Pass near Shetschen, where the summit of the pass is about eight kilometres north-east of Darjeeling as the crow flies.

Through its course, river has carved out ravines and gorges in Sikkim meandering through the hills .

The Tista is, by far, the largest tributary of the Brahmaputra-Jamuna system and issues from the western side above the bifurcation point of the Old Brahmaputra and the Jamuna. Up to the close of the 18th century, it flowed into the Ganges but after the destructive floods of 1787, in which a large part of rangpur was laid waste, it suddenly turned east and joined the Brahmaputra just south of Chilmari.

Since then, it has kept more or less to this channel. The frequent changes of its course have left a legacy in the shape of numerous stagnant cut-off channels west of Rangpur, Bangladesh most of which are known as Mara (dead) or Budi (old) Tista. The present channel of the Tista makes its entry into Bangladesh north of dimla and travels 177 km before it meets the Brahmaputra, and varies from 300m to 550m in width.

Hi,

I've just found out about your cause when I went to read up some more on Sikkim, a place my girlfriend and I visited in May of this year. Of all the places we went in our 4 month trip around India and Pakistan, Sikkim was definitely the highlight. We were only able to spend a few days there, but we loved it so much, we vowed to return and spend more time. I'm saddened to hear that the Indian government is taking steps that will threaten the natural beauty and ecological diversity of the area, as well as disrupting the lives of such peaceful, friendly people. I want to thank all the members of ACT and their supporters for their courage in standing up for their communities. It is my fervent hope that your voices will be heard soon.Sincerely,

Paul Lee,

New York

DAY 25.....................

DAY 25

Its the 25 day of the indefinite hunger strike by Satyagrahis and Members of Affected Citizens of Teesta, Dawa Lepcha and 20 year old Tenzing Gyatso Lepcha.

While both of them are admitted in STNM Hospital, the rest of the Saqtyagrahis continue their relay hunger strike at BL House, Tibet Road.

The health of the two satyagrahis in hospital is failing continuously. Dawa's blood pressure is drastically low and Tenzing is suffering from a viral infection.

The past day saw members Rong Ong Prongzom(Lepcha Youth Association) of Kalimpong blockade the National Highway 31 a for 2 hours in solidarity with the cause of ACT.

Meanwhile the government in its official press release through the IPR Department has reiterated that all possible regarding the mega hydel projects coming up have been addressed.

The indefinite hunger strike moves on to its 26th day tomorrow.

Dawa being taken to STNM Hospital after his blood pressure dropped drastically

Hello,

my name is Éric,

I'm french and a friend told me that the India want to do an hydrolic barrier in Dzongu. I think that this project is irresponsible because they didn't do an agreement with the Lepcha to preserve they habitat and almost their wonderfull river wich is a source of biodiversity and a base for their religion...

I hope that this project will be accoplish with respect : it means doing many little hydrolic barrier instead of a big barrier wich gona create a missing for the local peoples. In that way they could continue to live from the ressources of the river and it doesn't anihilate the biodiversity to.I hope that my message will be listen and I say to the Lepcha : be diplomatic, cool minded & courageous, your project of preservation could work if people who lead this project have respect for you and the Nature.

PLEASE don't do a big hydrolic barrier that will destroy nature and ressources for the Lepcha and for the humanity...

Éric G.

World citizen