Land for tea plantation won’t be disturbed for tourism activities, clarifies West Bengal CM Mamata

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee clarifies government's plan to allocate 30% of tea garden land for tourism, without disrupting tea cultivation.

Amidst opposition from tea gardens unions and Opposition parties over the government plans to allocate 30 % of land of tea gardens for tourism and allied industries, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday clarified the state government will not disrupt tea cultivation while granting approvals for tourism-related activities.

“There will be no compromise as far as tea plantation is concerned. If there is any additional land where there are no bushes on that land we have allowed commercial activities for local employment activities and tourism,” the Chief Minister said addressing a press conference at the State Secretariat.

During the Bengal Global Business Summit held earlier this month, Ms. Banerjee had announced that her government has decided to increase the land of tea gardens that can be allocated for tea tourism and allied sectors from 15 % to 30 %.

The Chief Minister clarified only those who have successfully implemented 15 % of land for tourism and allied purposes can seek extension of 30 % land. She added that those seeking land for tea gardens for tourism and allied purposes will have to employ 80 % of the locals in the employment they create.

“If garden owners seek approval for using more than 15 % of the land, the government will decide individually based on the circumstances,” she said. The Chief Minister said that such extensions for tourism and allied industries would be dealt on a case to case basis and the State’s Chief Secretary has prepared a standard operating procedure for the same.

Ms. Banerjee also informed that her government has allocated three-year leases to six closed tea gardens allowing the owners to resume operations and pay wages to workers. “If these gardens operate successfully, the lease period will be extended to 30 years,” she said.

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