Ingdong Tea Estate closure over wage dispute

Siliguri, Feb 6 (UNI) About 1500 workers were rendered jobless after the management of the Ingdong Tea Estate in Dooars dicided to close down the garden following a wage dispute, tea sources here said today.

Jalpaiguri District Magistrate Ram Chandra Ranjit told UNI today that he was informed about the closure of the tea estates on Febraury 4 last.

The management had put up a notice declaring closure of the garden for indefinite period. However, the notice did not give any detail about the closure.

The medium sized tea estate situated at Meteli in Malbazar Sub-division under Jalpaiguri district in North Bengal had about 15,000 permanent and temperary workers.

Malbazar Sub-Divisional officer Debol Kumar Ghosh said efforts were on to locate the managerial staff as they deserted the garden after puting closure notice in front of the main gate.

Defence Committee for Plantation Workers Rights' convenor Samir Roy alleged that the management was responsible for closure of the garden. He claimed that the management had assured the labourers to clear their last month's due on the day it put on the closure notice.

UNI