The Hindu Business Line : Reopening of Surendra Nagar tea estate `deferred'

Kolkata May 16 The much-publicised ceremonial reopening of the closed Surendra Nagar tea estate in Dooars in West Bengal by the Union Minister of State for Commerce, Mr Jairam Ramesh, on May 17 has been "deferred" at the instance of the State Government. No new date has been announced.

Surendra Nagar would have been the first of the five closed tea estates in the State (identified for early reopening) to have opened its gates once again.

Apprehending law and order problem at the reopening ceremony, the State Government requested the Union Minister to cancel his programme. The Government's view was communicated by the Chief Secretary. The apprehension was because the CITU-affiliated union was opposed to the reopening ceremony.

In Delhi, Mr Jairam Ramesh today expressed disappointment at the deferment. He told Business Line that his visit had been deferred in deference to the wishes of the West Bengal Government, which feared that the presence of the garden owner along with him could create a law and order problem.

In a statement in Delhi today, the Minister clarified that he had "no sympathy with, nor do I support in any way, the current owners of the closed tea gardens. My one and only concern is with the tea garden workers and their families".

Pointing out that he was still hopeful of some tea gardens reopening in the State, Mr Jairam Ramesh appealed to the trade unions "to cooperate with me and with each other as well in these efforts."

Mr Robin Paul, owner of Surendra Nagar tea estate , said the development was "unfortunate".

At the Kolkata meeting held by Mr Jairam Ramesh along with the Tea Board Chairman and other officials here last week to discuss the issueof the reopening of the closed tea gardens in the State, representatives of the CITU had said they were not convinced of the sincerity of the owners of the Surendra Nagar tea estate, who, according to them, had defaulted on statutory and other dues and had showed no willingness to clear them. INTUC representatives, however, had supported the reopening move.

Spread over 172 hectares, Surendra Nagar tea estate has remained closed for the past few years. It employs more than 300 people.

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