- A flood originating in Sikkim in October 2023, covered farms along the Teesta riverbanks in the neighbouring state of West Bengal, with sand and silt, altering the agricultural landscape in the region.
- The affected farmers and fishers are facing difficulties in accessing government aid because of property rights and land ownership issues.
- The local people highlight the urgent need for an embankment to prevent future flooding impacts. A makeshift dam that was shielding homes from the Teesta river’s flooding has been impacted by the October flood.
Gopal Sarkar, a 54-year-old farmer from Jalpaiguri district in the northern part of West Bengal, faced difficulties cultivating vegetables this past winter. His one-hectare plot is covered by a 4-5 feet layer of sand and silt, hampering its productivity.
“Every year, at this time, I grow potatoes, green peas, bottle gourd, cabbage, cauliflower and various other vegetables that are in high demand in the market. However, this year, I have barely planted anything. The entire field lies empty and barren,” Gopal Sarkar, whose farm is in the Gajoldoba barrage region in the Mal subdivision of Jalpaiguri, told Mongabay-India.
Dear Reader,
Every day, our team at EastMojo travels through rain, rough roads, and remote hills to bring you stories that matter – stories from your town, your people, your Northeast.
We do this because we believe in truthful, independent journalism. No big corporate backing, no government pressure – just honest reporting by local journalists who live and breathe the same air you do.
But to keep doing this work, we need you. Your small contribution helps us pay our reporters fairly, reach places others ignore, and keep asking the tough questions.
If you believe the Northeast deserves its own fearless voice, stand with us.
Support independent journalism. Be a Member.
Thank you,
Karma Paljor
Editor-in-Chief, eastmojo.com
He is one of many farmers affected by the October 2023 flood in Teesta river that originated in the neighbouring state of Sikkim and impacted croplands along Teesta’s riverbanks in West Bengal, spanning a 22 kilometre stretch from Gajoldoba (No.12 village) to Chapadanga.
The floodwaters brought a deluge of sand and silt, altering the agricultural landscape of the villages downstream of the Gajoldoba barrage.
As Lhonak lake in the Himalayan state of Sikkim breached in early October 2023, it triggered a flash flood in the Teesta river within the Lachen Valley of Sikkim. The flood’s impact in Sikkim worsened after water was released from the Chungthang dam and the flood’s impact continued to pockets of northern West Bengal, including the Jalpaiguri district.
This article was written by Arunima Kar and was first published on Mongabay.com
Also Read | Tripura: Crafting a sustainable future for artisans using bamboo