Siliguri, Sept. 10: The failure of a tripartite meeting convened to settle the garden retention issue along with pending workers' dues, provided yet another twist to the ongoing controversy surrounding the satellite township at Chandmoni.
The meeting, called on September 3 and attended by the workers’ representatives, Chandmoni managers, members of the Terai Indian Planters’Association, was held in “secret.”
The state government has been caught on the wrong foot with the garden labourers doubting its intention on living up to the promises made in the April 7 “terms of settlement.”
Discontented workers voiced their concern, at the end of the meeting regarding the “fate” of the portion of the garden to be retained on roughly 155 acres. Chandmoni has 38 permanent labourers whose livelihood will depend on the part of the garden that is to be retained.
What worries the workers is the fact that the government is yet to come clear on the “garden retention issue”. Although a plethora of promises have been made since April this year there is vagueness that still persists.
Inspite of repeated assurances by state urban development and municipal affairs minister Asok Bhattacharya that a portion of the garden would be retained “at any cost”, the workers are worried because construction work in Chandmoni has already started.
Workers were also displeased after they were informed that the Chandmoni management has raised a “tea-bush nursery” inside the garden.
“A nursery can’t substitute for a regular garden. We want a full-fledged garden to work in,” a worker said.
The satellite township called — Uttorayon — is a joint venture of the Bengal Ambuja Housing Development Limited and Luxmi Township Limited in collaboration with the state government. It will occupy around 400 acre along NH 31.
”Although concerned parties were present at last week’s meet, nothing concrete emerged on the garden retention issue. We are fed up with politics over the matter,” said a Chandmoni workers' representative, who did not want to be named.
