A century-old Kamalpur tea garden erupts in protests as workers allege illegal land diversion, destruction of tea plants, unfair wages, and plans for piggery farms, while management dismisses claims, citing new investments and protective palm plantation initiatives.
A century-old tea garden in Ramdurlavpur under Kamalpur subdivision witnessed a dramatic escalation of tensions on Friday as hundreds of plantation workers launched vehement protests against what they claim is the illegal diversion of tea estate land and unlawful felling of tea plants by the new management.
The tea garden, which has stood as a livelihood backbone for generations of native labourers, has recently undergone a change in ownership. However, the workers allege that the new management has begun implementing activities that violate environmental norms, labour laws, and long-established tea-estate regulations.
Workers Allege Illegal Cutting of Tea Bushes, Land Conversion and Piggery Plans
Protesters gathered inside the garden premises, raising slogans and blocking roads as they accused the management of systematically destroying tea bushes to clear land for other purposes.
“This is a 100-year-old tea garden which feeds hundreds of families. But since the ownership changed, everything has become hostile for us,” said one of the lead protestors, speaking to the media.
“This tea garden is over 100 years old and it provides livelihood to hundreds of local workers. After the new owners took over, tea plants are being cut every day. In their place, palm trees are being planted, and now they are trying to set up piggery farms, which violates all guidelines.”
Workers insist that such activities directly contravene land-use regulations issued by government regulatory bodies and threaten the very existence of the tea estate.
Another protestor alleged that the management was deliberately preparing the ground to reduce reliance on tea production and divert portions of the land for commercial farming or other private ventures.
‘Hire and Fire’ Policy, Wage Problems Add Fuel to Fire
Beyond environmental violations, workers also complained of unfair labour practices. According to them, the management has adopted a “hire and fire” system that denies them job security and fair wages.
“There used to be more than 800 workers in this factory. For the last few years, not a single worker has been upgraded to the regular pay scale, even though many senior workers retired,” one protestor said.
“Earlier we had more than 800 workers. Now the number has come down to 550. For the last seven years, hiring has stopped completely. We are working without job security, without fair wages, and without any opportunity for promotion.”
A second worker confirmed that the number of active labourers has steadily declined as the management allegedly avoids replacing retiring workers.
At present, only 550 workers remain in the workforce—nearly a 30% decline from previous staffing levels.
Management Rejects Allegations, Says Investments Made for Workers’ Benefit
Responding to the allegations, a senior management official rejected claims of illegal activities and instead highlighted that the company has invested heavily in modernizing the factory.
“We have installed machinery worth several crores in this factory. We have no intention of stopping tea production; if we don’t grow tea, the entire investment becomes meaningless,” the official said.
“Palm trees are being planted to provide shade for tea plants during extreme summers. This will not harm tea cultivation; in fact, it will protect the plants from scorching sunrays. Workers will also benefit because the land will produce dual crops.”
The official, however, declined to respond to questions regarding the alleged halt in hiring and lack of worker promotions.
Situation Remains Volatile As Authorities Expected to Intervene
The confrontation has brought operations in the tea garden to a halt, prompting local authorities to initiate discussions with both parties. Labour department officials are expected to visit the site soon to assess the situation and verify claims of illegal land use and labour violations.
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For now, the century-old tea garden stands at a crossroads—caught between allegations of exploitation and promises of modernization. Whether the estate’s legacy of tea cultivation will continue or be overshadowed by land-use conflicts remains a pressing question for the region’s workforce.
