Hydro Power Projects Induced Conflict: A Study of Lepcha Community of Dzongu

Abstract

In pre-era, many tribes reside in a small kingdom of Eastern Himalaya. Lepcha or Rong as they like to call themselves are the indigenous inhabitant of Sikkim long before outsiders namely Tibetans, Nepalese came to the land. Sikkim merged with the Indian Union in later half of the 20th century, May 16th 1975 to be precise. Unlike other ethnic groups, Lepcha claim themselves as an indigenous inhabitant of Sikkim. A land in Dzongu is treated as sanctity by Lepcha people but today the same land has been used for other purposes. Major effect of the hydel project can be divided into four sub sections namely, local, state, national, and the impact at the international level. However, the initiation of mega hydel project passed by Government had infringed its own declaration of Dzongu as reserve area. Simultaneously, the impact of modernization agents on Dzongu is bigger and also a complicated issue which led to the debate between insider and outsider in one hand and Affected Citizen of Teesta (ACT) verses state government in the other hand. Similarly, there are various theoretical strands which can lead to understand the basic nature of development conflict. Theoretical framework: There are relative deprivation theory which explains major term like exploitation and deprivation. The line of thought is simple here that deprivation leads to exploitation which again leads to awareness of a group, who in turn mobilize themselves to achieve the set goals of social change. Methodology: The data source for this paper is from both the primary and secondary sources generated during field investigation. Extensive field study with in-depth interview has been carried out, with the help of questionnaire in the region and outside. This present paper highlight on the Lepcha Protest against modernizing agents in Sikkim is a struggle to protect their Lepcha Identity and Conflict regarding Dzongu Reserve is a conflict between the Nature Worshipers and the Global Forces of Development.