File pictures of Kanthalguri and Ramjhora tea estates

Siliguri, Jan.1: The Jalpaiguri district administration has decided to extend the deadline for submitting bids to take over the closed tea gardens of Kanthalguri and Ramjhora following poor response from prospective entrepreneurs.

“It has been decided to extend the date till January 15 to give another opportunity to people interested in buying the gardens. We want some more bids for Kanthalguri and a few for Ramjhora,” said N.G. Hira, the additional district magistrate (general) of Jalpaiguri.

The date set earlier was December 31.

“Only a couple of parties have submitted bids expressing their interest in taking over Kanthalguri Tea Estate,” said Hira. “As for Ramjhora, we have not received a single application so far,” the official added.

Stakeholders of the tea industry, who are eagerly waiting for the two gardens to reopen, said the preconditions set by the administration and the government is discouraging entrepreneurs who are otherwise eager to make investments and refurbish the estates.

“Any company or individual that decides to take over any or both the gardens have to shoulder the past liabilities. This is the primary deterrent,” said a planter who did not want to be named.

“Another discouraging factor is that, according to the conditions set by the administration, the existing workforce in both these gardens cannot be rationalised (read retrenched) immediately after the take-over,” the planter added.

Though Hira refused comment on possible relaxation of the conditions, administrative sources said the issue was being discussed.

“Given the present state of affairs, it seems some of the conditions need to be relaxed to woo entrepreneurs,” said an official.

The Bengal government was given the responsibility of Kanthalguri and Ramjhora after the Centre decided to start the process of reopening the 13 closed gardens in the Dooars.

The leases of both estates had been cancelled.

The decision was followed by letters to the district administration, asking it to print advertisements in newspapers, seeking bids from interested parties.