Totapara Tea Estate – Detailed Profile

 

🌱 Totapara Tea Estate – Detailed Profile

Location:

• Banarhat, Jalpaiguri District, West Bengal, India

• Approx. 36 km from Dhupguri, 59 km from Jalpaiguri town

• Coordinates: ~26.740°N, 89.210°E

Ownership:

• Managed by Nuddea Plantations Limited

• Company incorporated in 1918

• Focus: Tea cultivation, mainly orthodox and CTC tea varieties

Size & Production:

• Estimated ~700–800 acres under tea cultivation

• Produces several varieties of black tea for domestic and export markets

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🏭 Recent Operational Status

• May 2024: Operations suspended suddenly

• Impact: ~850 workers unemployed, protests erupted

• Workers’ demands: Payment of wages, PF, gratuity, and other statutory dues

• Company’s response: Claimed suspension due to workforce issues

Legal & Labor Context:

• As per the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 and Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, non-payment can attract legal consequences.

• Workers may issue Form J notices for strikes or disputes under ID Act.

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🐘 Environmental & Wildlife Context

• Estate is near forested areas of the Dooars – rich in wildlife

• July 2024 incident: Elephant from Moraghat forest damaged property inside the estate

• Such human-wildlife conflict is common in tea estates bordering forests in Jalpaiguri

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🧭 Tourism & Cultural Significance

Even though currently non-operational, Totapara and surrounding estates reflect:

• Colonial-era tea plantation architecture

• Tea garden culture: labor cottages, estate bungalows, processing units

• Nearby attractions:

  • Gorumara & Jaldapara National Parks – wildlife safaris

  • Chuapara Tea Estate – heritage stays

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📌 Key Takeaways

1. Labor unrest has significantly affected operations.

2. Legal obligations on wages, bonuses, and gratuity remain critical for compliance.

3. Ecological sensitivity requires careful management due to wildlife incursions.

4. Tourism potential exists for heritage and eco-tourism experiences.