No Resorts on Closed Tea Garden Land, Says MP Raju Bista

MP, June 3, 2026, Siliguri : The state government is set to take stringent measures to revive the tea industry in North Bengal, with a decision that no resorts will be allowed to be built on closed tea garden land and that all closed tea estates will be reopened at the earliest.

The announcement was made by Darjeeling MP Raju Bista after a meeting on tea gardens at Uttarkanya on Tuesday. The meeting was attended by Nishith Pramanik, North Bengal Development Department (NBDD) Minister, Minister Bishal Lama and others.

Addressing the media, Bista said closed tea gardens would either be revived under new ownership or through cooperative management.

He also asserted that the alleged nexus and “setting culture” surrounding tea garden affairs at the official level would no longer be tolerated.

“There is also a need to review the provision allowing up to 30 per cent of tea garden land to be used for tourism-related purposes,” he said.

Bista stressed that tea garden owners would no longer be permitted to shut down estates due to mismanagement or negligence.

He said all owners must ensure timely payment of wages, provident fund (PF) contributions and other statutory benefits to workers.

He stated that around 175 cases related to PF non-payment are pending in various police stations.

“Police did not do their work properly. Strict action will be taken against those responsible,” he said.

According to Bista, nearly 30 tea gardens in West Bengal have closed over the years, while many more remain financially distressed.

To address workers’ welfare, the newly formed state government has decided to implement the Pradhan Mantri Cha Shramik Yojana (PMCSY), a centrally funded scheme announced in the Union Budget 2021-22.

Around Rs 313 crore will be spent over the next nine months on education, healthcare and welfare initiatives in tea garden areas, with the NBDD serving as the nodal agency.

The government has also formed a committee to work out the modalities for implementing the New Labour Codes in tea gardens and cinchona plantations, aiming to ensure dignified wages and improved working conditions.