Siliguri: Unprecedented rainfall in Himalayan foothills during last couple of days and wide spread inundation have once again brought the old Indo-Bhutan transboundary issue of dolomite contamination of land and its bite on tea economy of Dooars region in northern West Bengal into surface.
Flow of water, highly contaminated with dolomite from illegal mines in Bhutan, through rivers in Dooars region in Alipurduar district had always remained a concern for the local tea dependent economy. “The ground water contamination keeps on damaging soil hampering production. But this time, large scale inundation of garden has caused heavy damage of bushes too,” said planters there. Large section of near 150-tea gardens in the region, producing around 20% of the country's total yield, are now inundated under water of around 70 streams and rivers coming down from Bhutan.
Industry experts have estimated the immediate loss as of around Rs 200 Crore. In addition to that, “Rejuvenation cost of dolomite affected bushes will significantly increase the loss,” said S. Guhathakurata, Secretary of Dooars Branch of Indian Tea Association.
In the sixties, dolomite was an important export item of Bhutan to India. Although the official trade took a downturn in 80’s, complains are still there about continuation of open-pit, illegal mines. Bhutan holds a reserve of 13.5 billion ton, one of the highests in the world. This builds up dolomite rich debris on river bed reducing their water retaining capacity and contaminating ground water.
“Following our discussion with India, we have become very strict on the matter. In 2012, Bhutan withdrew many mine licenses and stopped issuing new ones," the then consul general of Bhutan in West Bengal and Assam, Dasho Wangda said earlier.
West Bengal CM Mamata Bannerjee also expressed her concern over this contamination issue and urged for a representation of Bengal in the Brahmaputra River Board that looks after the flooding issues in the region.
But the situation at ground level remained as gray as it was. “Not only tea, the contamination has severely hampered entire geology, ecology or biodiversity of the fragile foothills environment. The issue needs immediate and serious diplomatic level intervention,” said Red Cross India (Alipurduar) spokesperson Amal Dutta.
Flow of water, highly contaminated with dolomite from illegal mines in Bhutan, through rivers in Dooars region in Alipurduar district had always remained a concern for the local tea dependent economy. “The ground water contamination keeps on damaging soil hampering production. But this time, large scale inundation of garden has caused heavy damage of bushes too,” said planters there. Large section of near 150-tea gardens in the region, producing around 20% of the country's total yield, are now inundated under water of around 70 streams and rivers coming down from Bhutan.
Industry experts have estimated the immediate loss as of around Rs 200 Crore. In addition to that, “Rejuvenation cost of dolomite affected bushes will significantly increase the loss,” said S. Guhathakurata, Secretary of Dooars Branch of Indian Tea Association.
In the sixties, dolomite was an important export item of Bhutan to India. Although the official trade took a downturn in 80’s, complains are still there about continuation of open-pit, illegal mines. Bhutan holds a reserve of 13.5 billion ton, one of the highests in the world. This builds up dolomite rich debris on river bed reducing their water retaining capacity and contaminating ground water.
“Following our discussion with India, we have become very strict on the matter. In 2012, Bhutan withdrew many mine licenses and stopped issuing new ones," the then consul general of Bhutan in West Bengal and Assam, Dasho Wangda said earlier.
West Bengal CM Mamata Bannerjee also expressed her concern over this contamination issue and urged for a representation of Bengal in the Brahmaputra River Board that looks after the flooding issues in the region.
But the situation at ground level remained as gray as it was. “Not only tea, the contamination has severely hampered entire geology, ecology or biodiversity of the fragile foothills environment. The issue needs immediate and serious diplomatic level intervention,” said Red Cross India (Alipurduar) spokesperson Amal Dutta.