(a) the number of tea gardens lying closed in tea producing States as on date;
(b) whether any study has been conducted to know the reasons for their closure;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the remedial measures taken for their revival?
(a) the number of tea gardens lying closed in tea producing States as on date;
(b) whether any study has been conducted to know the reasons for their closure;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the remedial measures taken for their revival?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)
(a) : As per the information available, 39 tea gardens are lying closed of which 2
are located in Assam, 20 in Kerala and 17 in West Bengal.
(b) & (c) : The Government of India had appointed three Expert Committees to make
in-depth study of the closed tea gardens. The main causes for sickness/closure as
identified by the Committees include inherent weaknesses of the gardens due to
poor yields arising out of poor condition of the gardens and factories (affecting
tea quality and price realisations), poor garden management, frequent changes of
garden managers and the management’s excessive reliance on bank debt with negligible
fresh equity infusion. In some of the gardens, the neglect was due to ownership
disputes, protracted litigation and diversion of funds from tea gardens to other
activities and in many cases strained relationship between management and garden
workers.
(d) : The Government of India and the Tea Board have been facilitating discussions
between the managements of the closed tea gardens and their bankers with a view to
arrive at a settlement for re-opening of the closed tea gardens in various States of
the country. A rehabilitation package for closed and sick tea gardens is also being
formulated by the Government.