Kalchini and Raimatang Tea Estates to reopen

Kalchini and Raimatang Tea Estates both of which were shut after the management issued suspension of work notice on December 14 are scheduled to reopen tomorrow.

The decision to reopen the gardens was taken at a meeting at the chamber of Alipurduar district magistrate and Roshon Lal Agarwal, the managing director of Buxa Dooars Tea Company Ltd, and trade union leaders also attended it.

"It has been decided that tomorrow the gardens will reopen and payment of a fortnight will be given to the workers on Saturday," DM Debiprasad Karanam said.

The management had issued notices in the estates saying the labourers were not getting work under the NREGS.

Mohon Sharma, the chairman of Trinamul Cha Bagan Majdoor Union, said: "The gardens were not shut because of workers' mistakes. So, the the management has to pay wages for the past one week. If they do not, we will go to the labour tribunal."

While Kalchini has 2,000 workers, Raimatang has 1,300.(TT)