 "AAP workers protest smart city at tea estates in Dehradun")
Protests against the Uttarakhand government’s deal with real estate company Emaar MGF to set up a ‘smart city’ at the Harbanswala and Arcadia tea estates, close to this city, seem to be intensifying.
Ever since the government's decision to acquire land, for the purpose, opposition has been mounting, from political parties and others.
The state government is planning to build the proposed smart city by buying tea estate land from Emaar MGF, a major stakeholder in Doon Tea Company (DTC), owner of the areas in question. Apart from politicians, environmentalists and social activists of different hues have also held protest demonstrations.
Initially, the government intends to buy 316 acres of tea estate land from Emaar MGF. For this, the former has applied for a Rs 496-crore loan from Housing and Urban Development Company. And, has signed an agreement with China’s Tongji University, which is to develop the smart city and to be an investment partner in it.
For two months, agitated workers of the tea gardens have also been holding protests here. The 150-year-old DTC owns tea gardens across 1,127 acres. Resentment among the workers grew soon after Doon Tea Company dismissed 58 workers, following the state government's decision.
Doon Tea Company, set up in 1863 by Britishers, has been suffering losses for the past few years. The workers allege the current owners are not showing much interest in the business. Emaar MGF bought a majority stake in Doon Tea Company through its subsidiary companies a few years earlier.
In the past decade, the tea business in the state has taken a beating. There is poor maintenance of tea gardens and climatic changes in the Doon valley, fast losing its forest cover.
Cattle grazing in the tea gardens is now a common feature. Beside, scores of unauthorised colonies have come up on the fringes. Widespread sprouting of weed is also affecting tea cultivation.
Ever since the government's decision to acquire land, for the purpose, opposition has been mounting, from political parties and others.
The state government is planning to build the proposed smart city by buying tea estate land from Emaar MGF, a major stakeholder in Doon Tea Company (DTC), owner of the areas in question. Apart from politicians, environmentalists and social activists of different hues have also held protest demonstrations.
Initially, the government intends to buy 316 acres of tea estate land from Emaar MGF. For this, the former has applied for a Rs 496-crore loan from Housing and Urban Development Company. And, has signed an agreement with China’s Tongji University, which is to develop the smart city and to be an investment partner in it.
For two months, agitated workers of the tea gardens have also been holding protests here. The 150-year-old DTC owns tea gardens across 1,127 acres. Resentment among the workers grew soon after Doon Tea Company dismissed 58 workers, following the state government's decision.
Doon Tea Company, set up in 1863 by Britishers, has been suffering losses for the past few years. The workers allege the current owners are not showing much interest in the business. Emaar MGF bought a majority stake in Doon Tea Company through its subsidiary companies a few years earlier.
In the past decade, the tea business in the state has taken a beating. There is poor maintenance of tea gardens and climatic changes in the Doon valley, fast losing its forest cover.
Cattle grazing in the tea gardens is now a common feature. Beside, scores of unauthorised colonies have come up on the fringes. Widespread sprouting of weed is also affecting tea cultivation.
