Hopes for Jungpana TE to reopen

SNS, Kurseong, 3 August 2014: An all-important tripartite meeting was held today at the chamber of the Kurseong Sub Divisional Officer, U Swaroop, to resolve the crisis at the Jungpana Tea Estate in the Kurseong sub-division.

The management of the tea garden issued a ‘suspension of work’ notice on 31 July, while the workers are on the warpath. Talking to reporters, Mr Swaroop said the meeting was “positive” and that it prepared a “positive platform for tomorrow’s proposed meeting on the issue.”

He said the central committee leadership of the Darjeeling Terai Dooars Labour Plantation Union (DTCDLPU), a trade wing of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha, represented the workers and the union of the Jungpana plantation in today’s meeting.

The principal advisor to the Darjeeling Tea Association (DTA), Sandip Mukherjee, attended the meeting from the management side. Mr Swaroop further said that both the parties have agreed to sort out the issues and grievances.

On one issue, the management requested the central leadership to take action and remove a local zonal union leader, to which the central leadership of the trade wing assured that they will initiate an inquiry and take action accordingly.

“We hope the plantation will reopen after tomorrow’s meeting,” Mr Swaroop said.

GTA member Tilak Chandra Roka said all the parties concerned came forward to reopen the closed tea estate in today’s meeting.