The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry has authorised the Tea Board to take over the management control of seven ailing gardens of the G.P. Goenka-headed Duncan Industries in north Bengal.
According to a notification issued by the Ministry, under sub-section (1) of section 16E of the Tea Act, 1953 (29 of 1953), the Tea Board will “take immediate steps to take over the management or the control” of seven tea estates as per the provisions of Chapter IIIA of the Tea Act, 1953 (29 of 1953).
The seven tea estates that will be taken-over include Birpara Tea Estate; Garganda Tea Estate; Lankapara Tea Estate; Tulsipara Tea Estate; Huntapara Tea Estate; Dhumchipara Tea Estate and the Demdima Tea Estate.
According to the Ministry, these gardens are “being managed in a manner highly detrimental to the tea industry and to public interest". The gardens, which are officially open but are ailing, it further added.