Dalmore Tea Estate reopens

23 January 2012

statesman news service

SILIGURI, 23 JAN: The management of the closed Dalmore Tea Estate at
Birpara in the Dooars was reopened today. The estate was closed on 27
September 2011 when the new management allegedly failed to run the tea
plantation properly.

The new management, having failed to manage ‘imbalanced’ land and
labour ratio, had issued notice for suspension of work. A total of
1,021 permanent workers and nearly 100 other staff were rendered
jobless. Expressing happiness over the reopening of the tea
plantation, Jalpaiguri district magistrate Ms Smaraki Mahapatra said
the administration would extend all co-operation ~ implementing
100-days job and other basic needs to the workers of the sick tea
estate.

“After the tea estate was closed we had started implementing Mahatma
Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in and around
Dalmore Tea Estate so that the jobless workers can get alternative job
and earn their livelihood,” said Ms Smaraki Mahapatra.

“We have decided to continue the programme. Action plan for
construction of road, drain and pond within the plantation area would
be made in consultation with the management of the tea estate, workers
and local panchayat members,” she said.

“We had launched the MGNREGA scheme in many sick tea plantation
areas,” she added.