Bengal Cong wants PM help on closed tea gardens

The West Bengal Congress today sought more "positive" and "assertive" action from the Centre to revive the 14 closed tea gardens in the state.

The demand was made by the Congress legislature party chief, Manas Bhunia, who met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The state Congress leadership blamed the non-cooperation of the owners of the gardens and some Leftist trade unions for the situation.

Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jairam Ramesh has visited the state twice in the recent past to solve the problem but only one out of 15 gardens could be revived.

"The central government has the power to acquire through the Tea Board any closed tea garden for the benefit of the workers. There are legal provisions and these should be explored" Bhuniya said.