Chungthang Dam

Oct. 6, 2023

A major disaster took place in Sikkim recently, when the Chungthang Hydro-Dam was washed away by flooding of the Teesta River.

About Chungthang Dam:

Chungthang Dam, also known as the Chungthang Hydroelectric Project, is a dam and hydroelectric power station located in Chungthang, a town in Sikkim.
It is an integral part of the 1200 MW mega Teesta Stage III Hydro Electric Project, a major source of electricity for Sikkim and West Bengal.
It is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric project, which was commissioned in 2017.
The dam had a gross height of 817 metres and a net head of 778 metres, which was used for power generation.

About Teesta Stage III Hydro Electric Project:

It is a 1,200 MW hydro power project.
It is located on the Teesta river/basin in Sikkim.
It is a run-of-river project.
The project’s construction commenced in 2008 and subsequently entered into commercial operation in 2017.

Key Facts about Teesta River:

It is a trans-Himalayan river flowing through the Indian states of Sikkim and West Bengal and, Rangpur in Bangladesh.
It is a tributary of Brahmaputra River.
Origin: It originates in the Himalayas and flows through the Indian States of Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh, where it flows into the Brahmaputra.
It has a total length of about 309 kilometers.
Main Tributary: Rangeet River