Kolkata: Fifteen tea gardens that had become non-operational in Darjeeling and Alipurduar have reopened since Jan this year following implementation of the state govt's SOP for short-term settlement of closed or abandoned gardens. This benefited a total of 14,484 workers.The closed gardens were Mechpara, Raimatang, Dalmore, Kalchini, Toorsa, Dalsingpara, Mohua, Dheklapara, Singtam, Sungma & Turzom, Nagri Farm, Singbulli, Panighatta, Pandam and Kalej Valley.Among these, Panighatta, which had 1,130 workers, was non-operational for the longest period of 3,492 days from Oct 2015. It reopened on May 2. Sungma & Turzom tea garden in Darjeeling became non-functional for the shortest period of only 10 days, from March 19 to March 28 this year, after which it reopened.Raimatang tea garden, which was closed in Oct 2023, was reopened on Jan 20 this year.State labour minister Moloy Ghatak said in the assembly on Friday: "For tea gardens whose lease have expired and are yet to renewed, they will be provided with a temporary lease if they pay labourers' salary and all other statutory dues for one year."Two more tea gardens are scheduled to reopen very soon, Ghatak added.
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