The Darjeeling district CPM leadership has sought from the Mamata Banerjee government clarity on its policy to convert leasehold land of tea estates into freehold land. The CPM expressed fear that the government was planning to hand over the land to private companies.

“We are concerned over the state’s recent decision to convert leasehold land into freehold land. The state has even brought an amended bill in this regard. That is why we want to know why it is taking back surplus land from tea estates in north Bengal,” said Darjeeling district CPM secretary Saman Pathak.

He referred to a recent order by the state land and land reforms department that the government was taking back around 600 acres leased out to nine tea estates. Administrative sources said patches of land were lying unused with some tea companies and as a result were taken back for various uses.

“The chief minister and some of her cabinet colleagues often assert they will provide land rights to tea workers. We want the state to clearly spell out when the land, which the state has taken back, will be distributed among workers. If the state is silent, it is evident there are other plans,” said Pathak, adding that commercial properties have come up in many tea gardens in recent years.

“We suspect this is another plan of the state to feed its cash-strapped exchequer by giving land to private companies.”