The recent heavy torrential rains and subsequent landslides in West Bengal have significantly affected the prominent tea-producing areas of Darjeeling, Dooars, and Terai, resulting in substantial losses to the regional tea economy, with the Tea Association of India (TAI) estimating the damage to be around Rs 11-12 crore.
The heavy flooding, sudden river course changes, and extensive soil erosion on October 4 battered numerous tea gardens, with Darjeeling alone losing an estimated 5 per cent of its famed estates.
However, the crisis has been particularly acute in the Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts.
Chengmari tea estate in Jalpaiguri suffered the most severe impact, with officials estimating losses ranging from Rs 5 crore to Rs 5.5 crore. Around 300 hectares of the estate were affected, resulting in the loss of 50,000 tea bushes and 200 shade trees.
Additionally, the estate lost between 50,000 to 55,000 kg of manufactured tea.
The damage also included 150 labour quarters, a flooded hospital, and the destruction of 12 culverts and bridges.
PK Bhattacharya, from the Tea Association, detailed the pervasive nature of the disaster in a conversation with The Indian Express.
“The number of workers who have reported for work in rain-infested areas… there will be hardly any worker who will come there, so there will be no production. Most important is this, you know, when the floodwaters enter the tea area it spoils the tea bushes,” he said.
He explained that silt and water lead to “subdued growth” and “stunted growth” in the tea bushes, significantly reducing productivity. The damage extends beyond the crops.
“There’s also loss in loss of, you know, the assets… there might be bridges, there will be roads over there, there will be labor quarters over there,” Bhattacharya added, noting that the current figures are “on conservative estimates” and the full extent of the damage is still being assessed.
Speaking about the areas of extensive destruction Bhattacharya said, “The damage has been extensive in the areas of Kalchini, in the areas of Nagarakatta, in the areas of Banarhat. The entire Banarhat town was flooded… and there are at least 20 gardens in that area which is close to Bhutan.”
Other gardens reported damage:
Nagrakata tea estate (Jalpaiguri): The estate incurred approximately Rs 80 lakh in damage. The factory wall collapsed, resulting in the loss of 10,000 kg of processed tea, and around 40 hectares of land were submerged by river water. A vital footbridge and over a kilometre of roadway were also destroyed.
Rheabari estate: Recorded flooding across 60 hectares with estimated losses near Rs 2 crore.
Mechpara estate (Alipurduar): The floodwaters submerged 30 hectares of the area, damaging 2,000 tea bushes. The Ghatia river’s course shifted perilously, leading to the loss of several hume pipes, with associated losses estimated at around Rs 4-5 lakh.
Moraghat: The area saw 50 hectares submerged, affecting approximately 6,000 workers and 10,000 local residents.
Kalabari estate: The estate reported losses of about Rs 7 lakh, including damage to culverts, roads, and eight workers’ quarters.
Stressing on the unprecedented nature of flooding Bhattacharya said, “The location, the market, the gardens were inundated. It is a pretty bad situation, which was not witnessed in so many years.”
Meanwhile, the TAI voiced serious concerns that despite repeated requests for safeguards against riverbank erosion, no action was taken, thereby exposing “thousands of residents, plantation labourers, assets, and prime tea bushes to severe risk”.
“Without immediate government intervention, the continued existence of many gardens and the livelihoods of thousands will be in peril,” the association warned.
In response to the crisis, the TAI has formally requested an immediate high-level physical survey and a joint inspection by all concerned departments to fully assess the damage and implement rapid, coordinated engineering interventions to secure the gardens and the communities that depend on them.
In response to the crisis, the TAI has formally requested an immediate high-level physical survey and a joint inspection by all concerned departments to fully assess the damage and implement rapid, coordinated engineering interventions to secure the gardens and the communities that depend on them.
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