Tea Garden Land Rights Dispute Intensifies in Tripura as Workers Allege Threats and Loss of Livelihood

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, September 30, 2026

Concerns over tea garden land rights in Tripura are intensifying following the State Government’s decision to facilitate the use of tea garden land for real estate, tourism and industrial purposes, with tea workers and residents alleging that the changing land-use policy is putting their homes, livelihoods and traditional access to tea garden land at risk.

A fresh incident has now been reported from Chhotakhil area under Sabroom subdivision of South Tripura district, where an alleged attack on a tea garden worker has triggered renewed concern among families living in and around tea garden areas.

According to allegations, an elderly tea worker from Lilagarh Tea Garden was attacked, following which a large number of local residents reportedly approached Sabroom Police Station. Nearly 80 families residing in the tea garden area are said to have submitted a list of their names and raised concerns over their security and future habitation.

The reported incident has created considerable tension in the area. According to local accounts, the victim was allegedly attacked after a dispute involving tea garden-related land and habitation issues.

Residents claimed that the situation has generated fear among families who have been living in the area for decades. They alleged that portions of the garden and surrounding areas are increasingly being subjected to commercial activities, while traditional residents and workers are facing uncertainty over their rights.

Tea garden workers and affected families have argued that their livelihood is closely connected with the land surrounding the gardens.

According to their allegations, rows of rubber trees and other plantation trees near their residential areas have been cut down, while portions of land have allegedly been cleared for other purposes.

Residents further alleged that in some cases, land traditionally associated with tea garden workers' habitation has been brought under arrangements described as leases or settlements, creating uncertainty over their ownership and occupation rights.

They claimed that families who depend on the land surrounding their homes for supplementary income have suffered financial losses.

The affected families have reportedly pointed towards the role of the tea garden management and alleged that the present dispute is connected with longstanding disagreements over land.

A former tea garden worker leader, Surya Lakshan Singh, has reportedly raised allegations concerning the incident and the treatment of residents. The allegations include claims that substantial amounts of money have been collected from local residents in connection with land and habitation arrangements.

According to the allegations circulated by the residents, the cumulative amount involved could be around Rs.80 lakh. These claims remain allegations and require examination of documentary records, land records and financial transactions by the competent authorities.

However, the latest incident has also brought renewed attention to the broader debate over Tripura's tea garden land.

The State Government's policy allowing or facilitating alternative uses of tea garden land, including real estate development, tourism and industrial activity has generated concerns among sections of tea workers and garden residents who fear that commercial development could gradually reduce their access to land and threaten established settlements.

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