The Mamata Banerjee government has transferred the tea directorate that was constituted eight years ago in 2016 to the state labour department from the north Bengal development department on Wednesday.

The state issued a gazette notification on Wednesday, mentioning the change, followed by another notification issued on Thursday where the state reconstituted the tea advisory council that oversees the functioning of the directorate.

“It was a longstanding demand to include the directorate under the labour department. The decision was made at the last meeting of the state cabinet and accordingly, the notification was issued,” said a source privy to the development.

The directorate, which was formed in 2016, has been with the north Bengal development department so far.

“... the Tea Directorate which has been functioning under the North Bengal development department, will henceforth function under the administrative control of the labour department, Government of West Bengal...” reads the notification, while mentioning that the directorate’s office will remain in Siliguri with a branch office in Calcutta.

“The change is significant. Certain changes have also been made in the tea advisory council. It seems the chief minister was not happy over the functioning of the directorate,” said a source.

In the second notification issued on Thursday where the council was reconstituted, three state ministers, two elected representatives of Trinamool and some other party leaders have been included, along with officials of some state departments.

As per the notification, state labour minister Moloy Ghatak is the chairman of the council, with minister of state for tribal affairs Bulu Chik Baraik and Prakash Chik Baraik, TMC’s Rajya Sabha MP from Alipurduar, are the vice-chairpersons.

The council also has the minister of state Chandrima Bhattacharya and Anit Thapa, who heads the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, as members.

Among other members include Mahua Gope, the Jalpaiguri district TMC president and Zilla Parishad member, Ritabrata Banerjee, the state Inttuc president, Shanta Chhetri, a former MP and a TMC leader from the hills and Ganga Prasad Sharma, a party leader from Alipurduar who is also the chairman of Jaigaon development authority.

Along with them, the secretaries of labour, land and land reforms, north Bengal development and industry and commerce have been included in the council.

“A meeting of the new council will be held on September 26 in Siliguri. Some important decisions pertaining to the tea industry are likely to be made at the meeting,” said a source.