More than 1000 workers have been rendered jobless with the suspension of work in two tea gardens of North Bengal. "Suspension of work" notices were hung at the gardens in Manabari and Makrapara following disputes over payment of wages and other dues, Jalpaiguri District Magistrate Ramachandran Ranjit said.
The 300-acre garden at Manabari in Malbazar sub-division was closed temporarily on January 5 after two managers were forced to leave the garden. The management lodged a complaint with police against the workers. More than 700 workers became jobless in this garden alone, officials said. In another garden at Makrapara, the manager left the garden allegedly on the pretext of making arrangement for payment of dues to the workers.
Ranjit said the administration is taking measures to sit with the management of the gardens so that work could begin in the gardens soon. Thirteen tea gardens in North Bengal are lying closed with majority of them in the Dooars region of Jalpaiguri district. Usually a garden is declared closed if work remains suspended for more than 11 months.