Lok Sabha Question No. 2129 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-01
Subject: Revival of Closed Tea Gardens
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: KANWAR SINGH TANWAR

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2129 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01 st  JANUARY,2018

## REVIVAL OF CLOSED TEA GARDENS

## 2129. SHRI KANWAR SINGH TANWAR:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वा ͨणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंğी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of tea gardens lying closed at present, State-wise;
- (b) whether the Government has chalked out any programme to revive these closed tea gardens;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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) to (d):At present, there are twelve closed tea gardens in the country, nine in the State of West Bengal and three in the State of Kerala. The details regarding date of closure and current status are given in Annexure . 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.

****

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

|   Sl. No. | Name of the Tea Estate                                  | State       | Date of Closure        | Current status                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------|-------------|------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Dheklapara Tea Estate                                   | West Bengal | 11.03.2006             | 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 | BundapaniTea Estate                                     | West Bengal | 13.07.2013             | The State Govt. has taken possession of the land of the closed Bundapani T.E on 15th Oct,2014, on expiry of lease of land.                                                                                                        |
|         3 | DharanipurTea Estate                                    | West Bengal | 19.10.2013             | The State Govt. has taken possession of the land of the closed Dharanipur T.E on 18th Nov, 2014.                                                                                                                                  |
|         4 | RedbankTea Estate                                       | West Bengal | 19.10.2013             | The State Govt. has taken possession of the land of the closed Redbank T.E on 21st Nov,2014, on expiry of lease of land.                                                                                                          |
|         5 | SurendranagarTea Estate                                 | West Bengal | 19.10.2013             | 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 | MadhuTea Estate                                         | West Bengal | 23.09.2014             | The process of sale of the property is under process.                                                                                                                                                                             |
|         7 | Panighata Tea Estate                                    | West Bengal | 10.10.2015             | Labour unrest due to non-payment of dues.                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|         8 | ManabariTea Estate                                      | West Bengal | 21.03.2016             | Labour unrest due to non-payment of dues.                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|         9 | KumlaiTea Estate                                        | West Bengal | 15-11-2015             | Labour unrest dueto non-settlement of dues.                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|        10 | M/s Peermade Tea Co. Ltd.- Peermade&LonetreeTe a Estate | Kerala      | 01.04.2016             | Labour unrest due to non-settlement of labour dues. The Govt. of Kerala is in the process of reopening of the estate.                                                                                                             |
|        11 | M/s MMJ Plantations- Kottamala&Bonami Tea Estate        | Kerala      | 23.12.2013/ 11.10.2014 | 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             | Estate Management has abandoned the estate due to financial crisis.                                                                                                                                                               |

*************