Tea Firm Bid To Turn Realtor Raises Eyebrows

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the government of West Bengal and the 404 acres Chandmani tea estate of Deepankar Chatterjee for the development of real estate within the jurisdiction of the tea estate in Siliguri has divided the tea industry and the whole issue has become controversial.

While this has been a major cause of discontent among some sections of the tea industry, others feel this is quite a welcome move.

The MoU was signed on November 1997 for real estate development in Chandmani tea estate as the garden is no longer economically viable.

Some of the Calcutta-based tea majors feel that the case will prove to be a trend setter for small entrepreneurs to shift from tea plantations to real estate businesses.

 

Small garden owners will now intentionally drop production to declare themselves sick and then switch over to real estate development businesses, said the managing director of a leading tea company.

But there are many who are not ready to accept this view.

Says Vijay Dudeja, chairman and managing director of Paramount Tea Marketing Pvt Ltd, The hullabaloo created over this is absolutely unnecessary. Since tea is now fetching higher prices, no producer will think of uprooting tea plantation, he said. Appreciating this social purpose, Dudeja said, This development will provide employment to the existing labour force of the tea estate as well as many others who are unemployed.

But trade unions and a number of non governmental organisations are vehemently protesting this move.

Moreover, such is the gravity of the situation that some analysts also believe that this case is likely to affect the outcome of vote in the Darjeeling constituency. Local Nepalis and tribals may desist from voting for the CPI(M) candidate Ananda Mohan Pathak owing to this controversy.