Closed tea estate reopens

 

COOCH BEHAR, April 29: Bharnabari tea estate in Kalchini of Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri reopened yesterday. It was a closed one since 30 December 2005. News of reopening of the tea garden brought joy to the labourers of the garden.

 

It was learned that three entrepreneurs jointly took over the tea estate. There were about 1,900 workers in this tea estate. Already, a few allegedly died of malnutrition or other ailments and some left the garden to seek jobs elsewhere.

 

A trade union leader and also a minister of state, Mr Manohar Tirkey believes that there is no fear for lay-off of any worker in the reopened tea garden. The new management too expressed hope that the garden may revive its old glory in producing of good quality tea. []

 

Rescued tiger dies at rescue centre

 

COOCH BEHAR, April 29: A full grown Royal Bengal Tiger named Raju (16) died yesterday at the Tiger Rescue Centre at Dakshin Khayerbari in Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri. It was not taking any food for the last few days. On being informed, the chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Mr Sampat Sing Bist and other senior forest officials rushed to the spot. Post-mortem of the tiger's body was also done on the same evening. The forest officials are yet to ascertain whether it died of advanced age or of tuberculosis.

 

It may be mentioned here that the Tiger Rescue Centre was established to rehabilitate rescued and confiscated tigers from circuses as use of some scheduled animals is prohibited in circuses. The then forest minister Mr Jogesh Chandra Barman had inaugurated the facility on 25 November 2005. Initially there were nineteen rescued tigers. Four were sent to the zoo in Darjeeling, four including Raju died and now there are eleven tigers only in the rescue centre.

 

There is an allegation that the rescued Royal Bengal Tigers have to suffer from tuberculosis and other ailments due to lack of natural environment and facilities needed for them at the enclosure of the TRC. Inadequate number of trees and bushes also made the situation worse. For any medical help the authorities have to depend on the lone veterinary doctor of Jaldapara sanctuary. No survey was done yet to know the reasons why the tigers are suffering from tuberculosis and other diseases. Forest officials however were found reluctant to comment over the allegations. []