State nod for reopening closed tea estate in Darjeeling

"The previous discord between the administration and workers that had hindered the reopening has now been cleared. So the government has given the green signal to officially re-start work and provide all benefits to the workers," Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labor Union president P T Sherpa said.

The tea garden had been closed since May 8, 2009, after the manager was assaulted by workers.

The plantation has a 160-member workforce but those who have shifted their residence or no longer wish to work will be sounded for response on December 15, Sherpa said.

Once Kanchenview is reopened, the only Darjeeling tea plantation closed will be the Ringtong Tea Garden, under lock since 1996 when a fire broke out.

A wing of the GJM had alleged that the owner owed liabilities of more than Rs five crore and demanded all 944 workers to be re-allocated.

"We will soon schedule a meet with the district magistrate of Darjeeling regarding Ringtong," Sherpa said.

Darjeeling has 87 tea estates, covering an area of 21,750 hectares, which produce the world-famous Darjeeling tea, making up three per cent of India's total tea production.

Last year, the European Commission granted Protected Geographical Indication status to Darjeeling tea, meaning that teas from other regions cannot be sold under that label in Europe, making it the first Indian product to get PGI status.