Bengal tea estates to reap benefits from alternative uses of land

West Bengal plans to allow alternative use of land – for tourism, horticulture, medicinal plant cultivation, and hydro-electricity generation – by tea estates. The State produces nearly 25 per cent of the country’s tea production. In a draft notification issued last month, the State Government proposed to amend the Schedule F of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition Rules 1954, and the West Bengal Estates Acquisition Act, 1953, to incorporate the provisions for alternate use of land leased out to organised tea sector.

The draft notification is in line with the industry’s demand for allowing the sector to help maximise revenue opportunities, without changing the basic character of a tea estate, says Manojit Dasgupta, Secretary General, Indian Tea Association.

“ITA may request the government to also incorporate a provision for allowing tea estates in pursing dairy activities,” he said.

Dasgupta says the proposed amendments ensured that the State would have adequate handle on the plantation sector to prevent a complete diversion of land in non-tea activities.

It ensured that the estates (running well over 1,000 acres) cannot use more than five acres of land for tourism. The civil construction has to be limited in 1.5 acres in the plains (where estates are large in size) and only one acre in the Darjeeling hills.

There is no particular restriction on land-use for horticulture or medicinal plants. But the provisions make sure that tea has to be mainstay of business and, any such alternative use has to be approved by the district administration.

The district government would allow such use only if the land is unsuitable for producing tea and the move is not detrimental to the interest of the labours.

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