Dheklapara Tea Estate (Alipurduar), April 14: A tussle over the payment of electricity bills has left a closed garden dry.

More than 600 workers and their family members at Dheklapara Tea Estate in Birpara are now forced to walk at least 2km to fetch drinking water, as the pump in the garden cannot be operated without electricity, which has been disconnected over the non-payment of dues.

The trouble began on March 13, 2006 when the garden was closed down. Tube wells and Rig Bores set up in the estate proved to be useless. A few drops of water trickled from two tube wells and that too after one worked on the handle for at least 15 minutes.

“Now we have to go to Joy Birpara or Bandapani, 2km away, to fetch water,” said Bishnu Tanti, the convener of the operations and management committee (OMC) of the garden. Laxmi Tanti, a permanent worker, echoed him. The absence of electricity has also increased elephant attacks as the animals are usually scared away by lights, she said.

The OMC had requested the Madarihat-Birpara block development officer (BDO) to ask the power department to provide electricity connection, at least for the pump.

In August last year, the connection was provided. “We used to run the pump for half-an-hour twice a day and get sufficient water,” said Bishnu.

The Bandapani gram panchayat had paid the electricity bills for the first two months and then stopped. Top Deo Lama, the BDO, said: “A decision was taken in a zilla parishad meeting in Jalpaiguri that the OMC will pay the bill every month.”

According to Bishnu, the OMC could not pay Rs 11,384, which was due, as it does not have funds in the lean season. The connection was withdrawn because of non-payment on March 31.

When the OMC brought it to Lama’s notice, he told the committee to clear the dues. “But as the bills are being issued to the gram panchayat, it should pay the money. The BDO should talk to the pradhan who can easily pay the bill,” said Bishnu.

The BDO, however, said he could not instruct the pradhan to pay the bill following the zilla parishad’s decision. “But I will certainly look into the matter,” Lama said.