Agartala, September 9: Tension surfaced at Dhalabil Tea Garden in Khowai after tea workers alleged that tea plants were being cut with a bulldozer as part of land clearing for a proposed government office. The workers stopped work in protest.
According to reports, land-clearing work was underway at a section of Dhalabil Tea Garden on Wednesday, with a bulldozer allegedly being used to remove tea plants. After noticing the work, workers reached the site and sought an explanation.
The workers alleged that a contractor present at the site told them the area had been selected for construction of a government office and that the land-clearing work had begun after the administration identified the site.
The contractor’s statement led to protests among the workers, who questioned how work involving the removal of tea plants had started without informing the cooperative society managing the tea garden.
Workers said Dhalabil Tea Garden is operated by a tea industry cooperative society, which has a president and secretary. They alleged that no prior discussion was held with the cooperative before the land-clearing work began.
According to the workers, around 1,000 families once depended on the tea garden for their livelihood. The workforce has since declined to around 200 due to the garden’s prolonged poor condition. The remaining workers depend largely on the existing tea plants for their income.
The workers expressed concern that further removal of tea plants would put their livelihoods at greater risk. They said any proposal to use tea garden land for a government project should first be discussed with the cooperative society, workers’ representatives and the concerned authorities.
The workers said they would raise the matter with the Khowai Sub-Divisional Magistrate. They demanded that the cutting of tea plants and land-clearing work remain suspended until discussions with the administration take place.
The workers also called for consultation with all concerned stakeholders before any decision is taken on constructing a government office on the tea garden land.
The incident has triggered anger among workers in the Dhalabil Tea Garden area, with the dispute continuing over the proposed use of the land.
