The Hind Tea Company Limited, which owns the Ramjhora tea estate of Alipurduar district, served a notice announcing suspension of operations, two days after its representatives had abandoned the estate.

In the notice, the management said unlawful activities by a section of workers, who were allegedly instigated by local trade union leaders, forced them to close down the garden.

“A section of workers openly expressed their unwillingness to extend any cooperation to the management and have indulged in unlawful activities. They are bent on undermining the management’s authority which has made it difficult to run the garden in an effective manner,” said a source.

In the notice, it has been mentioned that the central leaders of the tea trade unions however, had extended their cooperation. “But, the district administration did not come up with projects under the 100-days-work scheme as was assured to the management when they had reopened the garden (back in 2010). Even then, the management went ahead and provided 300 days’ work to the workers instead of 200 days as was agreed at the time of reopening,” added the source.

Such an observation has made tea trade union leaders react.

“We want to reassert that there is always an option for across the table discussions. They can also take up the issue (of 100 days work) with the administration. But closing down a garden just ahead of the ensuing season would not do any good. The management should sit for talks and take initiatives to reopen the garden,” said Mannalal Jain, working president, Trinamul Cha Bagan Sramik Union.