Centre to take over 7 tea gardens of Duncan Ind in Bengal

Government has asked the Tea Board to take over the management of the seven tea gardens owned by Duncan Industries in view of their deteriorating conditions.
The Commerce Ministry in a notification dated January 28 said "... The central government hereby authorises the Tea Board to take immediate steps to take over the management or the control of the seven tea estates."
The seven tea gardens include Birpara Tea Estate, Garganda Tea Estate, Lankapara Tea Estate and Tulsipara Tea Estate.
"The Central Government hereby authorises the Tea Board to take immediate steps to take over the management or the control of the above seven tea estates as per the provisions of Chapter III-A of the Tea Act, 1953 (29 of 1953)," the notification said.

It also said the government is of the considered opinion that these tea gardens are being managed in a manner "highly detrimental" to the tea industry and to public interest.
The notification said the Commerce Ministry had received various representations to the deteriorating condition of the tea gardens of West Bengal, "in particular the tea gardens owned and managed by Duncan Industries Ltd".
The situation of these gardens has been assessed by the central government on the basis of the report of the Tea Board and the state government of West Bengal and consultations with the stakeholders of tea sector.