Floods hit tea production in north Bengal

Heavy rains in Dooars and Terai regions in north Bengal have severely damaged tea crop with many gardens being washed away by the flooded waterbodies.
"The overall situation in north Bengal is very bad due to incessant rains for the last several days with many bushes under the water," Joint Secretary of Indian Tea Association (ITA) Sujit Patra told PTI.
Major companies having gardens in north Bengal are Andrew Yule, Goodricke and Luxmi Tea among others.
Chairman and Managing Director of Andrew Yule Sunil Munshi said two of its gardens, Banerhaat and Karaballa, were 35 inches under water.
"The rains have caused a huge damage not only to the crop, but also to labour lines," Munshi added.

He said the damage of this scale had been caused after a long time, particularly after 1993 and 2000.

Last year, tea production in north Bengal, except Darjeeling, was around 315 million kg.
Patra said this time, the crop would be much lower.
CEO and MD of Goodricke Arun Singh said "the situation in north Bengal is very grave. Flood water has entered the gardens and workers' colony."
"River embankment of Leesh river has eroded 3 heactares of land. Help has been sought from West Bengal government", he added.