Panel to examine disaster risks and planned growth of hill towns

DARJEELING,: An Expert Committee to examine the recurring flood vulnerability facing the Teesta, Torsa and other mountain rivers of the Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars, along with the scope for planned expansion of the hill towns, has been constituted by the West Bengal government.

The committee was formed as per a notification issued by the State Urban Development & Municipal Affairs Department on September 23.

Speaking about the development, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista said, “This follows the letter I had written to the Chief Minister on the 31st of August, 2026, drawing attention to the growing danger posed by glacial lake outburst floods, extreme rain events, cloudbursts, landslides and the century-old, overburdened drainage systems of Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and Mirik.”

Bista maintained that, as per the notification, the committee will be chaired by eminent mountain expert and Padma Shri awardee Dr. Eklavya Sharma, with the District Magistrates of Darjeeling and Kalimpong as Member-Convenors. He said it will also include representatives from the West Bengal State Disaster Management Department, the Geological Survey of India, the UD&MA Department, the Environment, Forest, and Irrigation & Waterways Departments, along with eminent research faculty invited from institutions including Calcutta University, Jadavpur University, IIT Kharagpur, North Bengal University, Burdwan University and IIEST Shibpur.

“The committee has been tasked with examining precautionary and mitigation measures, disaster preparedness protocols, an action plan for the planned expansion of Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and Mirik, and the scope for identifying geologically stable areas for future development,” said Bista.