Kohinoor Tea Estate in bank control

Anirban Choudhury, TT, Alipurduar: The Jalpaiguri branch of the Central Bank of India has taken possession of the Kohinoor Tea Estate in Alipurduar district as the management failed to repay a loan and interest of over Rs 22 crore.

The gardens with more than 1000 workers at Samuktala was abandoned by the management on September 21.

"Without issuing a notice of suspension of work or lockout, the management left the estate on September 21. The labour department had called meetings but none from the management turned up," said a source.

Its not clear when the firm running the garden had taken the loan.

"The garden owed the Jalpaiguri branch of the Central Bank of India Rs 22.42 crore. As the loan had not been repaid, the bank issued a notice, saying it had foreclosed on the estate," said the source.

Kallol Das, the deputy labour commissioner of Alipurduar, said the department would convene a meeting between the management and the bank on December 5 to discuss the matter.

Trade unions said the garden had not invested the loaned amount in the garden.

"The company took huge loan from the bank but did not invest the same amount in the garden. Strong action should be taken against the management. They have cheated the workers of Kohinoor. I cannot understand what the fault of workers is," said Bidyut Gun, the secretary of the Alipurduar district committee of the Cha Bagan Majdoor Union.

The estate management couldn't be contacted.