Concerns Rise Among Tea Garden Managers Over Land Acquisition Plans

Tea garden managements in Guwahati are expressing significant concerns regarding the state government's plans to acquire and allocate labor line land to workers. They argue that this initiative could threaten the long-term viability of the tea industry. As district administrations move forward with land acquisition, the Consultative Committee of Planters Associations has raised legal and operational issues, including the need for fair compensation and the implications of granting heritable rights to workers. With over 3,33,486 families expected to benefit from this legislation, the tea sector is bracing for potential challenges ahead.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 7, 2025, 09:07 IST

Tea Garden Managements Express Concerns

Guwahati, Dec 7: The management teams of tea gardens in the state are facing challenges due to the government's initiative to acquire and allocate labor line land to workers, arguing that this move could jeopardize the long-term sustainability of the tea industry.

Reports indicate that tea planters are considering legal avenues, as they believe that the takeover and distribution of such land may not hold up legally.

In the meantime, district authorities have begun preparations to acquire the labor line plots, which has led the Consultative Committee of Planters Associations (CCPA) to reach out to the Chief Secretary to express their concerns.

The CCPA has requested that any land acquired should come with fair compensation in accordance with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

With the Central government set to implement the Labour Codes from November 21, 2025, which includes the Occupational Safety Health & Working Conditions (OSH&WC) Code, 2020, the CCPA noted that Section 92 of the Code allows for the extension of government welfare schemes to tea garden residents. They argued that due to the anticipated changes in land status following the takeover, garden managements should be relieved of any obligations to provide welfare facilities in the areas designated for worker land distribution.

Additionally, the planters have urged for the swift finalization of the State Rules of the OSH&WC Code to clearly outline the responsibilities regarding welfare, thereby absolving managements from obligations related to housing, water supply, sanitation, and more.

Planters have also raised concerns that many tea garden lands have existing mortgages with banks, necessitating bank approval for any changes to the mortgaged security.

They highlighted that the distribution of land would grant heritable and transferable rights, complicating the sale or purchase of such lands, which could harm the integrity of tea estates as cohesive entities.

Even if the rights are solely heritable, there is no assurance that the heirs of workers will continue to work on the estate. This could lead to a shortage of land for fulfilling the management's legal obligations to provide housing and accommodation for new workers, according to one planter.

A representative from a planters association expressed that once land is allocated to workers, it may become challenging to ensure their attendance for garden work, potentially leading to various law-and-order issues.

The state government intends to acquire and allocate a total of 2,18,553 bighas of land across 825 tea estates, with approximately 3,33,486 tea worker families expected to benefit from the legislation passed in the recent assembly session.