Re-Opening Kanthalguri Tea Estate

The bipartite meeting between trade union leaders and representatives of Jadabpur Tea Company for the reopening of the Kanthalguri tea estate remained inconclusive today.

However, the stakeholders felt that the meeting threw up enough suggestions that might ultimately pave the way to the reopening of the garden. Kanthalguri is the worst affected of the 14 closed estates in the Dooars and has been locked out since July 2002.

The meeting, which was held at the Indian Tea Planters’ Association (ITPA) office in Jalpaiguri, was convened after Jadabpur Tea expressed interest in acquiring Kanthalguri, earlier owned by Pink City Tea Company. “Those present at the meeting discussed the workforce of the garden and issues related to them,” said N.K. Basu, the principal adviser to ITPA.

“Some of the problems have been sorted out and to redress the remaining ones, we have decided to hold another meeting on February 15. It was a successful meeting and we look forward to further negotiations,” Basu added.

A source in the tea industry said the company representatives had proposed to engage 600 permanent workers in case they reopen Kanthalguri. The last payroll had 1,449 permanent workers on it.

“The trade union leaders said at least 800 workers should be recruited so that members from every family get work. The company is likely to state its decision in the next meeting,” the source said.

Basu said the company’s officials have already gone through the accounts of past liabilities of Kanthalguri. They have even had a discussion with the administrative officials over land lease. “Ever since the lease has been cancelled, the state has become the owner of the land,” he said. “As a result, in case the company acquires the estate, they should be granted fresh lease. The administration has promised to do so, provided related issues are cleared.”

Even the trade union leaders seemed hopeful. “Considering Jadabpur Tea’s proposals, the prospects of Kanthalguri are looking up,” said Mani Kumar Darnal, district secretary, National Union of Plantation Workers.

Source: The Telegraph