Order on tea garden farming - Planters slam forest advisory

TT, Jalpaiguri, Oct. 17: The forest department has issued an advisory asking tea estates to discourage cultivation of crops that triggers intrusion of wild animals and warning that planters will be held responsible if workers are caught for tree felling and poaching.

The planters slammed the 15-point advisory issued by Pradeep Vyas, the principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), in September.

"Raising of crops like maize, banana, fodder grass etc in vacant tea areas and in vicinity of forests which is legally prohibited should be discouraged as they invite elephants. Also this is not allowed in tea estates as per lease conditions," reads the advisory.

Vyas also said the management of tea gardens should inform the forest department in case any estate dweller was found to be involved in illegal tree felling and poaching. "Otherwise as per legal provisions, illegal timber or wild animal parts etc., if found within a tea estate, the tea estate authorities are liable for the same," reads the directive.

The planters were asked to discourage garden residents from going to forests for defecation, collection of firewood and cattle grazing.

The directive said labour quarters could be surrounded by energised fences. "The forest department is ready to provide technical expertise in this regard but the concerned tea estate will have to bear the costs," says the directive.

Amritangshu Chakraborty, the convener of the state committee of Consultative Committee of Plantation Associations, the apex body of tea planters, expressed displeasure over the directive.

"In tea gardens, it is a common practice among workers and even a section of employees to cultivate vegetables and other crops in vacant land near their quarters and bungalows. None of the tea companies cultivates any crop other than tea in the plantations. The management cannot tell workers and employees as to how they should use the vacant land next to their accommodation," he said.

"As far as identifying people indulging in poaching and tree felling is concerned, the gardens have no network and infrastructure to keep tabs on people. We do regularly share information about criminal activities with government departments and police. There is no logic in holding the management liable in case someone is caught violating law in the garden," he added.

Sukra Munda, the Trinamul MLA of Nagrakata, said he would sit with tea planters and foresters to discuss the advisory and sort out the issues.