Lok Sabha Question No. 2499 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-01
Subject: Tea Gardens in Assam and West Bengal
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: KAMAKHYA PRASAD TASA, PONNUSAMY VENUGOPAL

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2499 TO BE ANSWERED ON 1 st  AUGUST, 2016

## TEA GARDENS IN ASSAM AND WEST BENGAL

## 2499. SHRI KAMAKHYA PRASAD TASA: DR. P. VENUGOPAL:

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

- (a) the details of the closed tea gardens in Assam and West Bengal at present;
- (b) the details of the owner company, land on lease and the number of workers in respect of these closed gardens, tea-gardenwise;
- (c) the details of the workers wages due in each tea garden along with the details of the PF dues, etc. and the action taken/being taken by the Government to re-open the closed tea gardens;
- (d) whether  several  companies  have  expressed  interest  in  taking  over  tea  estates  in  West Bengal and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  announced  its  intent  to  acquire  seven  tea  estates  in  the State and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether the Government has received several representatives regarding the deteriorating condition of tea gardens of West Bengal and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken thereon?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx jkT; ea=h ¼Jherh fueZyk lhrkje.k½ ¼Lora= izHkkj½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

## (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a) to (c): At present, no tea gardens are closed in Assam.  However, there are six tea gardens closed in the State of West Bengal.  The details of these gardens including present status, number of workers, wages and PF dues, etc. are given in the Annexure.

The  Government  of  West  Bengal  has  cancelled  the  lease  of  gardens  viz.  Bundapani,  Red Bank, Surendra Nagar and Dharanipurfor handing over the management of the gardens to prospective buyers.

(d) to (f): Representations/references were received by the Central Government from various  quarters,  including  Parliamentarians  and  public  representatives,  highlighting  the grim  situation  of  tea  garden  workers  in  the  closed/stressed  tea  gardens  in  West  Bengal, particularly the gardens owned by Duncan Industries Ltd. Reports were called for in the matter from the State Government and the Tea Board.  In view of the reports of the State Government and the Tea Board,the Central Government vide notification dated 28.01.2016 has authorized the Tea Board to take steps to take over the  management  or  the  control  of  seven  tea  gardens,  namely  (i)  Birpara  Tea  Estate,  (ii) Garganda Tea Estate, (iii) Lankapara Tea Estate, (iv) Tulsipara Tea Estate, (v) Huntapara Tea Estate, (vi) Dhumchipara Tea Estate, and (vii) Demdima Tea Estate owned by M/s Duncan Industries Ltd. and M/s Santipara Tea Co. Pvt. Ltd.

Tea Board has received 15 bid applications in response to various Expressions of Interest (EOI) invited by the Tea Board for management of these gardens.

******

Annexure

<!-- image -->

| Sl. No.   | Name of the T.E   | Present Status                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | No. of Workers   | No. of Workers   | Outstanding Dues   | Outstanding Dues   |
|-----------|-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------|------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
|           |                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | Permanent        | Temporary        | P.F. Dues          | Wages              |
| 1         | Dheklapara T.E    | The estate was officially liquidated by the Hon'ble Kolkata High Court. The garden was put up for e-auction by the Hon'ble Kolkata High Court (Official Liquidator) on 11 th May,2012, but no prospective buyer was available. | 604              | 200 (Approx.)    | >72.94 lakhs       | 10 Lacs (Approx.)  |
| 2         | Bundapani T.E     | TheWest .Bengal Govt. has taken possession of the land of the closed Bundapani T.E on 15th Oct,2014, on expiry of lease of land.                                                                                               | 1215             | 68               | >291.26 lakhs      | 42.17 (Approx.)    |
| 3         | Dharanipur T.E    | The West Bengal Govt. has taken possession of the land of the closed Dharanipur T.E on 18th Nov, 2014.                                                                                                                         | 357              | 450 (Approx.)    | >193.48 lakhs      | 60 Lacs            |
| 4         | Redbank T.E       | The West Bengal Govt. has taken possession of the land of the closed Redbank T.E on 21st Nov,2014, on expiry of lease of land.                                                                                                 | 888              | 700 (Approx.)    | >63.93 lakhs       | 219 Lacs           |
| 5         | Surendranagar T.E | The West Bengal Govt. 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.                                                  | 301              | 150 (Approx.)    | >26.60 lakhs       | 79.62 Lacs         |
| 6         | Madhu T.E         | It is unofficially known that the owner is trying to sell the garden to a willing entrepreneur.                                                                                                                                | 947              | 0                | >462.26 lakhs      | Nil                |