Manjolai tea gardens fall silent as company prepares to cease operations

A solemn calm fell over the once vibrant tea estates of Manjolai and neighboring Ooththu and Naalumukku last Friday, shattering the tranquility that had long defined this picturesque corner of the Western Ghats. These lands, famous for their clean air and tranquil waters, provide a sanctuary for generations of tea plantation workers. Today, the familiar hum of workers’ chatter and the melodies of their songs are noticeably absent, leaving the tea gardens eerily quiet. Nearby cemeteries and places of worship, once popular with visitors, will be deprived of their usual activity.

Legal fees

The cause of this poignant silence is the imminent closure of operations of the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation (BBTC), which has managed the estates since 1930. The acquisition of 8,374 acres through a 99-year lease from the Zamin of Singampatti – l he money helped the Zamin meet some legal costs – BBTC transformed this rugged terrain into the enchanting tea estates that defined Manjolai and the Naalumukku, Ooththu, Kuthiraivetti and Kaakkaachi regions.

When the Zamin system was abolished, these lands were acquired by the government, which honored the BBTC lease. With the lease expiring on February 11, 2028, the BBTC, in a bid to continue its operations beyond the lease period, has appealed to the state government to grant it ‘ryotwari patta’, since the The company grew tea on these lands. After that plea was rejected, the BBTC went to the courts – from the district court to the Supreme Court – seeking legal recourse. However, the legal battle was fought against the BBTC. This means the company has to vacate Manjolai and other areas before the rental period ends.

Voluntary retirement offer

Adding to the uncertainty is the designation of this scenic area as the heart of the Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, surrounded by lush green forests teeming with wildlife, including tigers, elephants and panthers. Amidst this natural splendor, more than 700 families have taken up residence in Manjolai, Naalumukku and Ooththu (where tea plantations are located); and Kuthiraivetti and Kaakkaachi, for generations. Today, faced with voluntary retirement offers from the BBTC, these families are mobilizing against an uncertain future, sparking widespread concern and protests.

Workers’ appeal

The workers demanded that the government give them at least part of the rental properties and buy them green tea at a price set by the government.

“Since the government handed over its land for tea plantations at Udhagamandalam and Valparai, a similar arrangement can be made at Manjolai, considering the welfare of the workers, who have known no other life than cultivating tea. tea. If the workers are evicted from these lands, where they have been living for four generations, they will be left without means of livelihood,” says lawyer Pinaygash of Manjolai, who practices in the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court.

Political parties have also rallied behind workers, urging the government to step in and secure their future. The promise of continued livelihoods and a dignified existence hangs in the balance as the community awaits a final decision from authorities.

Emotions run high among the residents. “We don’t need wealth; what we have here is enough for us. All we are asking is to be allowed to stay,” pleads Mr. Jayashree of Naalumukku. “We have lived here for generations and this hill holds the graves of our grandparents, parents, siblings and others. The two churches, three temples and the only mosque in Ooththu are close to our hearts, as we have all celebrated religious festivals without firecrackers or bright lights all these years,” she adds.

“We lived all these years among wild animals and king cobras, but none of them harmed us. We experienced showers; However, they did not destroy our mudstone houses. None of us has ever suffered from a life-threatening illness because the clean air and water have strengthened us. If we leave this place, we will not even be able to visit the tombs of our ancestors or the places of worship that have blessed us all these years,” she adds. The BBTC had recently issued notice to the workers, asking them to sign voluntary retirement agreements.

Hope for the best

Lawyer Arasu Amalraj of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) met the workers earlier this month, even as a section of the workers were ready to accept the project and move out. “Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker (Mr Appavu) recently promised that the government would take the right decision on this issue and observed that workers should be allowed to live here. So, we are expecting a heartwarming announcement in the next Assembly session,” says Mr. Amalraj. On their last day in Manjolai, June 14, the workers, especially the women, were inconsolable. Some were hoping for a compassionate resolution from the government, seeking to preserve a way of life that has defined Manjolai for generations. With the Assembly session set to begin this week, the issue is likely to find an echo in the House.