Fri Jan 17 14:59:40 UTC 2025: ## Historic British-Era Tea Factories in Idukki Face Demolition

**Idukki, Kerala, January 17, 2025** – Two iconic British-era tea factories in Idukki, Kerala, are slated for demolition, sparking concerns among former workers and historians. The Londry and Cheenthalar factories, built near Elappara in the Peermade hills, represent early tea production in the region and were operational until 2000.

The factories, reportedly designed like ships and nicknamed “Mukkal Kappal” (one-third ship) and “Ara Kappal” (half ship), were sold by the Peermade Tea Company (PTC) last year to a private entity for demolition. This has left over 1300 former employees, who are still owed provident fund and gratuity dues, facing further hardship.

Former workers like Swami Das, 68, expressed deep emotional attachment to the factories, highlighting their significance as the livelihood source for hundreds of families. K. Surendran of the High Range Estate Employees Association (CITU) emphasized the ongoing distress faced by these families.

Economic historian K.T. Rammohan argued that the factories hold unique historical and pedagogic value, noting their intricate engineering and potential as tourist attractions similar to the Kanan Devan Hills Plantations Tea Museum in Munnar. He cited accounts of the factories’ construction, including the use of bullock carts to transport equipment. The factories, he stated, represent crucial landmarks in the region’s economic and technological history.

The demolition of these historically significant structures underscores the conflict between economic development and the preservation of cultural heritage. The early history of the Cheenthalar estate, including its acquisition and the establishment of tea production, is documented in Somerset Playne’s book, “Southern India”.

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