In a stern message to the owners of closed tea gardens in Dooars area, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said the state government would take over if they cannot run the gardens.
"If you have tea garden and if you can't run them, tell us. The state government will take over or we will give it to someone else," Banerjee told a meeting here. "If you can't run the gardens, don't betray the workers," she said.
The chief minister said that payment of provident fund is compulsory and non-payment of it is a criminal offence.
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Banerjee said she had ordered resumption of drinking water and electricity supply to the closed tea gardens.
The state government has ordered a CID probe into the alleged non-payment of wages to workers at the Bagrakot tea garden of Duncan Industries in north Bengal.
