By A Newsman

Siliguri, 23 November: AS was decided in a tripartite meeting of management, workers, and the Alipurduar district administration on 18 November, the Birpara tea garden of Duncans group reopened today.

This comes after nearly two years since the Duncans management suspended production in the garden citing recurring loss.

The management and workers performed a puja in the factory before resuming work today. Birpara garden has around 1,700 workers including both permanent and casual workers.

Going by a resolution of the 18 November tripartite, the management today handed over Rs 1,000 to each of the permanent workers as the first instalment towards wage dues.

There are six more tea gardens of the Duncans group that are lying shut and the management has plans to reopen all of them by March 2017.