Panighatta tea garden reopens after 10-year hiatus, brings jobs to 500 workers in Siliguri

After a decade-long closure, the Panighatta Tea Garden in Mirik block, located 32 km from Siliguri, has officially reopened. The tea garden, spanning over 1,000 acres, had been shut down in 2015 following a conflict between workers and the management. This closure led to the loss of employment for approximately 500 workers, leaving them without work for years.

On 29 April, a significant agreement was signed between the company and major trade unions in Siliguri’s Worker’s Building, paving the way for the reopening of the garden. The company’s head, S. S. Bagharia, was present during the signing. The agreement aimed to resolve long-standing issues and bring the tea estate back into operation, ensuring the restoration of jobs for the displaced workers.

The Bagharia Group, which now operates several tea estates in the region, confirmed that the Panighatta Tea Garden will once again contribute to the local economy. Along with Panighatta, the group currently runs two other tea gardens in Mirik and one in Darjeeling. The reopening is expected to positively impact the local tea industry, offering new employment opportunities and stabilizing the workforce in the region.