The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has taken up the task to install rain gauges in the Terai and Dooars tea belt to gather information about rainfall and local temperature readings.

G.N. Raha, who is in charge of the regional Met office in Gangtok, said that for starters, they have decided to install the rain gauges in 50 tea gardens located in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts, as well as in the Siliguri subdivision of Darjeeling district.

“We will install the rain gauges to get information about the rainfall of the tea gardens and adjoining areas. The data will also help the tea estates plan their agricultural activities. Also, through the data, we will be able to assess whether there is any chance of flash flood or waterlogging in the garden and its surroundings," said Raha.

"In cases of flash floods or waterlogging, alerts would be passed to the state irrigation department and other concerned authorities,” said Raha.

Every year, during the monsoon months, incessant downpour damages tea plantations.

Also, in some cases, rivers and streams skirting the tea estates swell and sweep the tea bushes away or inundate plantations.

In north Bengal and especially in the Dooars belt, a number of rivers and streams which descend from Bhutan, move through the vicinities of the tea estates.

“Based on the rainfall data, experts associated with the tea industry can make recommendations to the tea gardens so that they do not suffer losses in production,” added the meteorologist.

Amitangshu Chakraborty, the principal adviser of the Indian Tea Planters’ Association, said that initially, 20-odd tea estates in Dooars have granted permission to the IMD to install rain gauges.

As of now, the IMD has around 70 rain gauge stations — including 20 automated weather stations — in north Bengal and Sikkim.

“Once these rain gauges are installed, we will have access to rainfall data in a more comprehensive manner,” said Raha, adding that it would help the tea stakeholders.