Anit Thapa halts land survey in tea gardens: Political parties come on common platform to stop allotting 30% land to industrialists

YAWAN GURUNG, DEEP GAZMER, EOI, MIRIK / DARJEELING, MARCH 5, 2025: Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Chief Executive Anit Thapa has stopped the ongoing land survey in tea gardens until a clear ordinance is issued to provide land leases to the people. Thapa said on Wednesday the issue of tea gardens and land leases had become overly politicized. "As a representative of the people, I will not go against their wishes," he said.

People living in the Selim Hills tea gardens had already received leases for five decimals of land, and there were plans to provide leases for up to 80 decimals of land, Thapa said. "Our desire is that people should get leases, but it seems that people do not like it," he said.

Thapa informed that an ordinance had been issued to measure the land, but the opponents were only focusing on five decimals of land. "Until a clear ordinance is issued to give land papers as soon as the survey is done, I have informed the District Magistrate, the Minister, and the Chief Secretary of West Bengal that we will stop the survey," he said.

Political parties opposed to the notification of the West Bengal government to allot five decimal land to workers and allot 30 percent land to industrialists for non-tea production activities have come on a common platform to give voice to their protest. On Wednesday, representatives of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, the Gorkha National Liberation Front, the Indian Gorkha Janashakti Front, the Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists, the CPI, and the BJP were huddled in a meeting in Darjeeling to chalk out strategies and a way forward to counter the decision of the West Bengal government.

"Those who love the hills and the Dooars and are opposed to the notification of the State Government have come together. Today's meeting was bereft of any political banners," said GJM representative Kishore Bharati.

Political parties in the hills are opposed to the allotment of 30 percent tea garden land to industrialists for non-tea activities and the survey of land to allot land rights to only five decimals of land to workers.

"It’s a well-thought-out plan of the State Government to make us landless, systematically. It started with five decimal land rights to workers and allowing 15 percent land for non-tea activities. From there, the government is now going to give 30 percent land to the industrialists. Our people have safeguarded and looked after the land since ages and it belongs to them now," Bharati said.

Earlier, as a mark of token protest, trade unions of the hill tea gardens had stopped workers from harvesting the first flush tea leaf on the first day of plucking, which started from February 27. Now, they have threatened to continue with not harvesting the first flush if the government fails to recall its notification within 15 days.

"We had a holistic discussion. Aspects such as our identity, land, and environment were covered. It was very positive. We discussed ways to protest and overcome the government enforcement," said Bharati.

A decision was also taken to form a Drafting Committee by March 10, which would have two members from each of the participating political parties to communicate with the West Bengal government and the Centre.