The Duncan group has decided to reopen the closed Dimdima tea plantation situated under the Birpara police station in Alipurduar district on 9 March. The decision to reopen the tea plantation was taken in a tripartite meeting held at Nabanna in Kolkata on Tuesday, it is learnt.
Representatives of the state labour department and tea plantation workers’ unions attended the meeting. Representatives of the Duncan group also attended the meeting convened by the state labour department, it is learnt.
“Duncan group will reopen its Dimdima tea plantation on 9 March. Forty percent of the dues of the Durga Puja Bonus for the previous year will be paid on the day of the opening of the tea garden. The decision to reopen the tea plantation was taken on Tuesday in the tripartite meeting held in Kolkata,” said the Joint Labour commissioner for North Bengal, Chandan Dasgupta.
It is learnt that there are 16 tea plantations in north Bengal, including eight in Alipurduar , which belong to the Duncan group. Six tea plantations, including the Dimdima tea plantation, in Alipurduar district are abundant closed since Aprill 2015. Two tea gardens–Hantapara and Garganda– reopened on 5 February this year.
After Hantapara and Garganda, the decision to reopen another abandoned tea garden has been welcomed by people in the Dooars who said they are extremely happy with the development. “Duncans will reopen the plantation without making any changes in the number of workforce.
All the 1620 workers associated with the plantation may join on the first day of the reopening of the plantation. We are happy with the decision taken in the tripartite meeting held today,” said the president of the Cha Bagan Trinamul Congress Mazdoor Union, Mohan Sharma.