Annual Flooding of Teesta and Karla Rivers Raises Questions Ahead of Assembly Elections

Every year during the monsoon, rising water levels of the Teesta River bring devastation to large parts of North Bengal. Residents of Jalpaiguri district are no strangers to flood-like situations and sudden flash floods, which repeatedly disrupt lives and livelihoods. Alongside the Teesta, the Karla River—often reduced to a narrow, drying channel for most of the year—turns ferocious during peak monsoon, adding to the crisis.

Heavy rainfall in the hills of Bhutan and Sikkim causes the Teesta to swell rapidly, leading to widespread inundation downstream. For many living along the riverbanks, losing homes and belongings to floodwaters has become an annual ordeal—almost a grim routine. However, as the state gears up for the upcoming Assembly elections, a pressing question looms large: must this cycle continue indefinitely?

While natural disasters are beyond human control, concerns are mounting over the role of human intervention in worsening the situation. Environmentalists point to unchecked and often illegal construction along the Teesta’s banks, as well as the presence of multiple barrages and reservoirs, as factors that may be disrupting the river’s natural flow and ecological balance. These developments, they argue, are contributing to increased vulnerability during periods of heavy rainfall.

Pollution has emerged as another serious concern, particularly in the Karla River. Locals allege that unchecked dumping of waste has turned the river into a channel of garbage, emitting foul odors and posing health risks. The deteriorating condition of the river has only intensified public frustration.

Despite years of recurring disasters, residents claim that little has changed on the ground. Allegations of administrative apathy are growing louder, with many questioning the lack of long-term solutions.

As election campaigns gain momentum, the recurring floods of the Teesta and Karla rivers have once again taken center stage. Will this long-standing issue influence voting patterns? More importantly, will the people living along these riverbanks finally see meaningful intervention and relief?

For now, these questions remain unanswered.

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