Lok Sabha Question No. 4869 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-26
Subject: Closed Tea Gardens
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: HARISH DWIVEDI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4869(H) TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 th  MARCH,2018

## CLOSED TEA GARDENS

## 4869(H). SHRI HARISH CHANDRA ALIAS HARISH DWIVEDI:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether many large tea gardens of the country are lying closed;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the number of workers affected thereby, Statewise;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  take  over  some  closed  tea  gardens  of  the country; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the number of tea gardens revived/ operationalised during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Jh lh- vkj- pkS/kjh½

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a) &(b): At present, there are twelve tea gardens closed in the country, nine in the State of  West  Bengal  and  three  in  the  State  of  Kerala.  The  details  regarding  date  of closure, number of workers affected and current status are given in Annexure .
- (c) & (d): Central Government and Tea Board are in active coordination with the State Government  concerned  to make  the gardens functional and if required, by transferring the lease of land to other interested entrepreneurs.  The following closed tea  gardens  were re-opened and operationalised in the last three years and current year state wise :

| State       | Year    | Year                | Year    | Year                      |
|-------------|---------|---------------------|---------|---------------------------|
|             | 2014-15 | 2015-16             | 2016-17 | 2017-18                   |
| Assam       | Nil     | 1 (Rani Tea Estate) | Nil     | Nil                       |
| West Bengal | Nil     | Nil                 | Nil     | 1 (Joybirpara Tea Estate) |
| Kerala      | Nil     | Nil                 | Nil     | Nil                       |

## State wise details of 12 closed tea gardens in the country

| Sl. No .   | Name of the Tea Estate   | State   | Date of Closure   | No. of Workers   | No. of Workers                                             | Current status                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|------------|--------------------------|---------|-------------------|------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sl. No .   | Name of the Tea Estate   | State   | Date of Closure   | Permanent        | Temporary                                                  | Current status                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 1          | Dheklapara Tea Estate    |         | 11.03.2006        | 604              | 200 (Approx.)                                              | The estate was officially liquidated by the Hon'ble Calcutta High Court. The garden was put up for e-auction by the Hon'ble Calcutta High Court (Official Liquidator) on 11 th May,2012, but no prospective buyer was available |
| 2          | BundapaniTe a Estate     |         | 13.07.2013        | 1215             | 68The                                                      | State Govt. has taken possession of the land of the closed Bundapani T.E on 15 th October, 2014, on expiry of lease of land.                                                                                                    |
| 3          | DharanipurTe a Estate    |         | 19.10.2013        | 357              | 450 (Approx.)                                              | The State Govt. has taken possession of the land of the closed Dharanipur T.E on 18 th November, 2014.                                                                                                                          |
| 4          | Redbank Tea Estate       |         | 19.10.2013        | 888              | 700 (Approx.)                                              | The State Govt. has taken possession of the land of the closed Redbank T.E on 21 st November, 2014, on expiry of lease of land.                                                                                                 |
| 5          | Surendranagar Tea Estate |         | 19.10.2013        | 301              | 150 (Approx.)                                              | The State Government has cancelled the Land Lease of Surendra Nagar T.E by an order dated 14/11/2014 and the Land has been taken over by the state Government on 13.01.2015                                                     |
| 6          | Madhu Tea Estate         |         | 23.09.2014        | 947              | -                                                          | As per un official information , the process of sale of the property is under process                                                                                                                                           |
| 7.         | Panighata Tea Estate     |         | 10.10.2015        | 787              | -                                                          | Labour unrest due to non- payment of workers dues etc.                                                                                                                                                                          |
| 8          | Manabari Tea Estate      |         | 21.03.2016        | 374              | 116 Labour unrest due to non- payment of workers dues etc. | 116 Labour unrest due to non- payment of workers dues etc.                                                                                                                                                                      |
| 9.         | Kumlai Tea Estate        |         | 15-11-2015        | 1118             | -                                                          | Labour unrest due to non settlement of labour dues etc.                                                                                                                                                                         |

## ANNEXURE

|   10. | M/s Peermade Tea Co. Ltd.- Peermade&L onetree Tea Estate   | Kerala   | 01.04.2016             |   220 | -   | Labour unrest due to non settlement of labour dues etc. The Govt. of Kerala is in the process of reopening of the estate.   |
|-------|------------------------------------------------------------|----------|------------------------|-------|-----|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    11 | M/s MMJ Plantations- Kottamala&B onami Tea Estate          | Kerala   | 23.12.2013/ 11.10.2014 |   375 | -   | The company has got a stay order from the Kerala High Court prohibiting action against the company presently under Tea Act. |
|    12 | Bonaccord Tea Estate                                       | Kerala   | 05.03.2015             |   220 | -   | Estate Management has abandoned the estate due to financial crisis.                                                         |

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