The Dheklapara tea estate in Alipurduar district reopened on Wednesday after a gap of over 20 years with a new company taking over the plantation where the number of permanent workers dropped to 288 from 604 at the time of the closure.

The garden had been shut down in 2002 because of wage dues and the resultant protests by the labourers. Although the state labour department had taken a number of initiatives to revive the estate, the work couldn’t resume because of legal complications.

Sources have said Banglajhar Tea Private Limited in Siliguri finally expressed its willingness to operate the Dheklapara garden. Accordingly, a bipartite meeting was held at Dooars Kanya, the district collectorate here, on March 13. “Representatives of the company and trade union leaders were present at the meeting, where it was decided that the garden would reopen today,” said an official of the district administration.

When Dheklapara was closed down in 2002, it had 604 permanent workers. Gradually, the workforce was depleted by labourers’ deaths, retirements and engagement in other professions. Currently, 288 workers are getting monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,500 each from the state government.

“It has been decided that the existing 288 workers will be engaged by the new management. In due course, maybe after a couple of months, job applications will be sought from the families of those who are no longer engaged in the garden work,” said a source.

The new management disbursed a sum of Rs 1,000 to each of the 288 workers as an advance on Wednesday.

“The labourers will receive wages after every fortnight. A due bonus will also be paid,” said the source.