Representation seeking adjournment of conciliation proceedings due to devastating weather and water-logging at Totapara Tea Estate, Banarhat, Jalpaiguri District

 

1.     To
The Labour Commissioner, Government of West Bengal, New Secretariat Buildings, 11^th Floor, 1, Kiran Sankar Roy Road, Kolkata – 700001. Phone : 03322488150, Email : labourcommissioner.wb@gmail.com

 

2.     The Deputy Labour Commissioner, Kathalguri Building, Kadamtala, Jalpaiguri – 735101. Phone : 03561230112, Email : dlcjalpaiguri@gmail.com 

 

3.     The Assistant Labour Commissioner, Kathalguri Building, Kadamtala, Jalpaiguri – 735101. Phone : 03562257141, Email : alcmalbazar@gmail.com

 

4.     The Additional Labour Commissioner (P), North Bengal Zone, having its Office at Shramik Bhaban, Dagapur Complex, Pradhannagar, Siliguri, District – Darjeeling, Pin – 734003. Email : additionallcnbzone@gmail.com

 

5.     The Joint Labour Commissioner (P), Jalpaiguri, having its office at Kathalguri Building, Kadamtala, Jalpaiguri – 735101. Email : Jointlabourcommissioner@gmail.com

 

 

 

6.     The District Magistrate, Jalpaiguri, Office of the District Nagistrate, Jalpaiguri, at Collectorate Building, 6th Floor, PO: Jalpaiguri, Jalpaiguri, PIN-735101, West Bengal. Phone : 03561-230127, Email : dm-jlp@nic.in

 

7.     The Sub-Divisional Officer, Sadar, Jalpaiguri, having Office at SDO Office, Jalpaiguri, Pin – 735101, West Bengal, Phone : 03561-232017, Email : sdosadarjal@gmail.com

 

8.     The Block Development Officer (BDO), Banarhat, Post Office – Banarhat, Jalpaiguri - 735101, West Bengal, Phone :  7318858006, Email : bdobnht2020@gmail.com

 

9.     The Superintendent of Police, Jalpaiguri, having Office at Collectorate Ave, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal 735101, Phone : 3561225588, Email : spjpgwb@gmail.com

 

10. The Officer in Charge, Banarhat Police Station, Banarhat, Post Banarhat, District – Jalpaiguri, Pin – 735202, Phone : 7810900179, Mobile Number : 9147889167, Email : banarhatjpg@gmail.com

 

 

Reference : Memo No. 2261/DLC/JAL/2025, dated 27-09-2025, for joint conference on 10-10-2025, at 12:30 P.M. at the Office of the Deputy Labour Commissioner, Kathalguri Building, Kadamtala, Jalpaiguri-735101.

 

Subject: Representation seeking adjournment of conciliation proceedings due to devastating weather and water-logging at Totapara Tea Estate, Banarhat, Jalpaiguri District.

 

Sir,

 

We, Nuddea Plantations Limited, respectfully submit this representation for your kind consideration;

 

1. That the Totapara Tea Estate under our management in P.O. & P.S. Banarhat, District Jalpaiguri, has been severely affected by continuous heavy rainfall and flooding caused by water flow from Bhutan, as widely reported in leading newspapers including The Times of India dated 6th October 2025, under the headline “Heavy rain and Bhutan water surge: North Bengal tea gardens submerged”. The said report highlights that the tea gardens in Banarhat and adjoining areas received approximately 350 mm of rainfall within 12 hours, leading to the inundation of large parts of the tea belt and serious damage to plantations and infrastructure.

 

2. That the recent North Bengal Weather Forecast dated 08.10.2025 issued by the Meteorological Department further indicates continuing light to moderate rain and thunderstorm warnings for Jalpaiguri district over the next few days, confirming the ongoing adverse climatic conditions.

 

3. That due to this calamity, the Totapara Tea Estate remains heavily waterlogged, with tea bushes submerged and access roads damaged. The workers, staff, and management are fully engaged in emergency operations to drain the excess water, prevent soil erosion, and save the tea bushes from permanent damage due to dolomite-laden floodwater from Bhutan.

 

4. That the local administration, including the Block and District authorities, is fully aware of the prevailing situation, as the matter has been reported to and inspected by them in view of the widespread flood impact in Banarhat and Nagrakata regions.

 

5. That, in compliance with the Hon’ble Calcutta High Court’s Order dated 25.09.2025 (WPA 2115 of 2025), the management of Nuddea Plantations Limited has already disbursed bonus at the rate of 9% to all eligible workmen by 27th September 2025, as directed.

 

6. That, however, given the current extraordinary situation of natural calamity and emergency engagement of the entire workforce in protecting the tea estate, it is not feasible at present to conduct or participate effectively in the ongoing conciliation proceedings regarding the balance bonus payment, as directed by your office pursuant to the aforesaid order.

 

Accordingly, we most respectfully request that the conciliation proceedings be adjourned for a reasonable period of a fortnight, to enable restoration of normalcy at the estate and meaningful participation by all stakeholders.

 

We assure your good office of our continued cooperation and commitment to maintaining industrial peace and harmony once conditions permit.

 

Thanking you,

 

Yours faithfully,
For Nuddea Plantations Limited

 

(Authorized Signatory)
Date: 08.10.2025
Place: Jalpaiguri

 

C.C.;

 

The Workmen represented by their respective Unions;

 

(a)   Trinamul Cha Bagan Shramik Union (TCBSU), Arbind Paswan, WhatsApp Number : 9635373780;

 

(b)   Bharatiya Tea Workers Union (BTWU), Romesh, WhatsApp Number : 8145302319;

 

(c)    Cha Bagan Majdur Union (CBMU), Prasanta Das, WhatsApp Number : 9382042679;

 

(d)   National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW), Ajay Tappa, WhatsApp Number : 9593890021;

 

Having their Office at Totapara Tea Estate, Post Offfice Banarhat, District – Jalpaiguri, Pin – 735202, West Bengal.

 

{for information & necessary action}