Wed Feb 26 03:53:39 UTC 2025: ## West Bengal CM Clarifies Tea Garden Land Allocation Policy
**Kolkata, February 26, 2025** – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressed concerns over the state government’s plan to allocate 30% of tea garden land for tourism and allied industries. Addressing a press conference, she clarified that tea cultivation would not be disrupted. The additional land available for commercial activities and tourism will only be that which is not currently used for tea bushes.
The announcement, initially made during the Bengal Global Business Summit earlier this month, increased the permissible land allocation for tourism from 15% to 30%. Ms. Banerjee emphasized that only tea garden owners who have successfully utilized the initial 15% allocation will be considered for the extension. Furthermore, any expansion will require a commitment to employing 80% local workers. The Chief Secretary has developed a standard operating procedure to manage these requests on a case-by-case basis.
In other news, the Chief Minister revealed that six closed tea gardens have been granted three-year leases to allow owners to resume operations and pay worker wages. Successful operation will result in a 30-year lease extension.
Finally, Ms. Banerjee urged the Uttar Pradesh government to expedite the disbursement of promised compensation to families of West Bengal residents who died in the recent Kumbh Mela stampede in Prayagraj. She reiterated her call for immediate release of the announced Rs 25 lakh ex gratia payment.
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