The policy has found no takers, which was designed to provide a substitute revenue stream for tea companies.
SS Bagaria, chairman of Darjeeling Tea Association, said, "It is not a comprehensible policy and will not drive much of investments. The course for getting clearances still remains unwieldy. We were expecting that the government will allow a single-window clearance, which has not happened."
The policy states that the land used for tea tourism shall be restricted to a limit, such as 5 acres in the plains as well as the hills. In the plains, civil construction shall be organized in an area which is not over 1.5 acre while in hills it shall be restricted to 1 acre. The remaining areas shall be utilized for landscaping and decoration.
The policy also states that tea companies owning gardens, who want to carry out tourism projects under a new name, will have to pay salami (rent) and land revenue at commercial rates.
"This will prove to be a chief hindrance in driving investments in Darjeeling or in Dooars," explained Bagaria.
The industry was expecting that the government would provide sops to endorse tourism projects, which can come out as a main source of revenue in the hills. Usually, international tourists visit Darjeeling or Dooars to enjoy their holidays while getting a feel of tea production. As for the example, Ashok Lohia of Chamong Tee has transformed the 100-year-old heritage bungalow in his Tumsong estate into a tourism venture.
“International tourists come to this place in large numbers. Even our buyers from abroad come to Darjeeling to get a feel of the tea of this place. Our charge to them is around Rs 15,000 per couple per night which involves food as well as pickup and drop from the Bagdogra airport," he said.
The policy recommends that a fresh lease has to be taken for a joint venture company between a tea company and another company. In addition to this, salami and land revenue at commercial rates are to be paid. Further adding to the wound, the tea garden company should have a majority share in the joint venture.
Darjeeling includes around 87 tea estates, some of them features bungalows that were established by the Britishers.
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