Tea Land Policy sparks debate as CM clarifies

Mamata Banerjee clarified only 15 per cent of tea land is for tourism, but Opposition challenges a policy allowing 30 per cent non-tea use

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, speaking to the media in Kolkata yesterday, clarified that only 15 per cent of tea plantation land will be used for tea tourism and local employment.

However, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista led a delegation to meet West Bengal Governor Dr C V Anand Bose, seeking urgent intervention regarding a gazette notification issued by the state government on 7 February.

The notification allows tea garden owners to use up to 30 per cent of their land for non-tea purposes, such as hotels, hydro-dams, and commercial activities.

Miss Banerjee emphasised that no changes are being made to tea garden land ownership laws. She stated that surplus land within estates can be used for commercial activities, but no single entity will be granted more than 30 acres at a time.