Ring Tong tea garden asked to reopen

Darjeeling (WB), Apr 22 (PTI) The authorities of Ringtong tea garden here has been asked to reopen the tea garden tomorrow and clear all dues to the workers in a month. "The owner of Ringtong tea garden has been asked to reopen the plantation tomorrow. 

He has also been asked to clear dues worth Rs 5.7 crore to the workers," District Magistrate of Darjeeling Soumitra Mohan said. The dues accumulated since 1996 when the plantation was closed after a devastating fire destroyed it, officials said. The planter Sushil Choudhury was asked to clear the dues within a month, Mohan said after meeting the officials of the tea garden and leaders of labour unions. "The workers have been deprived of benefits like rations, wages and transportation allowances," GJM affiliated Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union president Suraj Sharma said. Mohan said two showcause notices in 2007 and 2009 were served to the plantation owner. The factory and other facilities of Ringtong tea garden located on the outskirts of Darjeeling was devastated by devastating fire at the factory in 1996. PTI COR NIK AMD