Centre Takes over 7 Duncan Gardens

[Tea Plantation Workers - Related News]

The Centre has authorised the Tea Board to take over the management control of seven gardens of the G.P. Goenka­headed Duncan Industries in north Bengal, stepping onto a populist but tricky terrain left open by Mamata Banerjee ahead of the Assembly elections. The Union ministry of commerce and industry invoked a rarely used section of the Tea Act of 1953 to take control of the gardens in the Dooars, saying they "are being managed in a manner highly detrimental to the tea industry and to public interest". The gardens, which are officially open but are ailing, can potentially generate 10 million kg of tea and employ 17,555 workers. Chaired by Gouri Prasad Goenka, Duncan, which has 14 gardens in Bengal, has run up mounting dues on salary and statutory benefits. After taking over the seven gardens, the Centre appeared keen to send a message that it had acted while the state government dithered.