Tea Board likely to acquire 3 closed estates in Bengal

Kolkata: The Union Government is analyzing whether action can be taken against the owners of three tea estates located in Dooars area in northern part of West Bengal by invoking the provisions of the Section 16(D) of the Tea Board Act. The three tea estates are Raipur, Sikarpur and Bhandarpur together employing more than 2,000 workers. The Chairman of Tea Board has been asked to examine how to proceed in the matter. In Kerala, five of the total number of 17 closed gardens had already been opened and eight others would be reopened soon while in West Bengal only one out of the 14 closed gardens could be reopened. Bharnobari, with a total area of 725 hectares employs 1,856 people, and Redbank, 368 hectares, 881 people. The first batch of loan applications under the Special Purpose Tea Fund would be signed with 58 tea companies controlling 81 gardens in West Bengal and the total amount of loan will be Rs 37 crore. In West Bengal, there were a total of 308 gardens.