Darj stir’s first flush signals tea break

Ravik Bhattacharya, THT, 8 Aug 2013, Kolkata: Plantations in Hills have been badly hit as stocks are piling up - Your morning cup of Darjeeling tea may soon fall victim to the ongoing Gorkhaland stir. 

Although plantations have been kept out of the purview of the indefinite bandh, production of one of the finest agricultural produces that carry the signature of India all over the world has been severely hit prompting calls of concern from worried importers. 

Although the gardens are open, the agitators have refused to allow any movement of tea out of the 57-odd gardens in the Hills. 

The restriction is all the more important since what is called ‘post-second flush’ harvest is on in full swing and the produce is piling up. 

Experts fear the quality of tea will be affected if stored for a long period and owners say they will have to stop production if things don’t improve. More important than the storage space is the fact that Gorkhaland agitators are not allowing tankers laden with fuel to reach the gardens. 

Most plantations in the Hills have their own captive power plants to run the factories. “Since August 3, movement of tea from the gardens and factories has come to a halt. Vehicles cannot ply because of the bandh. Bulk of Darjeeling tea is exported to countries such as Japan, US, UK and Germany. 

The goings-on here are giving a wrong impression,” SS Bagaria, chairman of Darjeeling Tea Association, told HT. According to the association estimates, Darjeeling tea industry has already taken a hit of about R15 crore and if the strike continues it would result in a loss of more than R2 crore per day. 

In Kolkata, price of tea is expected to rise by 10%. To add to the tea industry’s woes, Gorkhaland supporters have forced some hydel projects in the Hills to shut down and there is a severe power crisis in the Hills. 

Gardens have been running their generators for the whole day, which has pushed up the demand for diesel. And due to the complete shutdown, no fuel trucks are allowed to ply in the Hills. 

Exporters fear that foreign companies who are waiting are likely to cancel consignment for further delay and even a likely drop in quality. 

“The Gorkhaland agitators have been considerate towards the tea industry because it is the mainstay of the region’s economy. But we are losing business since 70% of Darjeeling tea is exported,” said Sandip Chakraborty, president of the Darjeeling Tea Association. 

KOLKATA: Calcutta High Court on Wednesday pulled up the Mamata Banerjee government for failing to maintain normalcy and provide emergency services in Darjeeling. Chief justice Arun Mishra and justice Joymalya Bagchi directed the state authorities to ensure that there is no disruption of essential services in Darjeeling. The judges also directed superintendent of police, Darjeeling, to file a report on August 14 on the compliance of the court’s directives issued on February 14 to deal with the situation during bandh called by any political party. Referring to a 1997 Supreme Court ruling, the division bench had on February 14 observed that bandhs and strikes were illegal. 

The state advocate assured the court that directives would be implemented and there would be no disruption of public life and the state will provide all necessary security. The directives came on public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by an advocate, seeking declaration that the bandh called by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) is “unconstitutional”. 

Moving the petition, the advocate said that the manner in which life had been disrupted had hit the common man. Essential services have been kept closed prima facie it appears to be a bandh under the guise of general strike. In terms of the court’s directives on February 14, the state authorities have to ensure that while organising bandh/strike, no use of force or intimidation is made, no interference with road and rail traffic or free movement of the citizens of Darjeeling is made. 

The state also has to ensure smooth running of public transport in Darjeeling, take appropriate action against the person/s concerned indulging in stoppage or interference with the road and rail traffic or free movement of the citizens, ensure essential services like telephone and tele-communication, water supply, milk distribution, power supply, fire services, newspapers, hospitals including functioning of Courts and protection given. 

The police authorities will have to take action against anti social elements and persons indulging in acts of violence and vandalism, make adequate police arrangement outside railway station, bus depots, main roads, main junctions, hospitals, courts, schools, colleges etc. and give necessary protection to market and business places. 

All police control rooms will have to be fully activated to take proper and timely action and to ensure that no unlawful activity takes place. 

The party, which called bandh, may be held liable to pay compensation for any destruction of property takes place and in case essential services working of institutions are disrupted in violation the court’s direction.