The tea industry has said that in the absence of plantation sector reforms, reopening of the closed tea gardens may not be a sustainable exercise and their financial viability would always remain fragile.
Referring to the close tea estates ( >where deaths have been reported ) a press release issued by the industry apex body, the Consultative Committee of Plantation Associations (CCPA) said that these were closed down during the 2003-06 industry recession
While the West Bengal government took extensive measures to sustain the distressed population and provide avenues for income generation, fundamental issues pertaining to these gardens have remained unaddressed, the CCPA said.
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75 per cent of West Bengal’s tea bushes are over half a century old, giving low yields amid high production costs. Such gardens remain vulnerable even after reopening according to CCPA chairman A.N. Singh.
The industry response is to be seen in the perspective of the nudge given by the state government and the Union Commerce Ministry at a recent meeting, that the industry consider taking over some closed gardens.
While rights activists have been claiming that the deaths in these gardens were due to starvation, the Tea Board and the state government have denied it, saying that they were due disease and other causes.
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