In January 2025, the owner of the Lepetkata tea estate, Luxmi Tea Company, announced a mega tea tourism project in its Bolye division at an estimated cost of Rs 300 crore in the first phase. The move sparked protest by tea estate workers who fear for loss of livelihood.
Under the mega project, social infrastructure like multi-disciplinary vocational training centre, educational institute and a super-speciality hospital will be set up, along with a wellness centre, tea convention centre, luxury hotels, resorts, homestays, art theatres, farming, and aquaculture activities. According to a report by the Assam Tribune, officials of Luxmi Group stated that the project has received the nod from the State Cabinet and trade union Asam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS).
However, the Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association (ATTSA), leading the demonstrations, argue that destroying tea bushes could threaten their livelihood. Tea workers allege that about 300 bighas of land has already been cleared for the tourism project.
Basanta Kurmi, central organising secretary of ATTSA, warned that protests would grow if the company didn't replant tea bushes in the cleared areas. “We will not allow our tea garden lands to be used for commercial purposes. These lands are not just soil and plants. They are the lifeline of hundreds of families who have dedicated generations to tea cultivation... The livelihoods of hundreds of families depend on this tea garden. If the management goes ahead with this project, they will be left with no work and nowhere to go,” Kurmi told the Times of India.
Another member of ATTSA, Montu Urang, added that removing tea bushes would force many workers to leave for jobs elsewhere. “Uprooting tea bushes means declining job opportunities for the local population. This will cause large-scale migration of workers for job opportunities elsewhere and disintegrate the settled communities within tea estates,” he said.
In response, Luxmi Tea Company defended its plans, claiming the project would create jobs and not harm workers' livelihoods. Director Sunil Munshi stated, "The tea tourism project will utilize only a minuscule portion of the tea estate, and the tea garden will continue to function as before. There will be no job losses.”
Another official commented, “Tea tourism offers a range of employment opportunities... Jobs as hospitality staff, guides, drivers, and homestay hosts are just a few examples. Moreover, the project will generate roles in healthcare, teaching, and administrative functions. Skill development initiatives will equip the local youth with expertise in hospitality, guiding, languages, and customer service, creating pathways to diverse career opportunities.”
Additionally, the All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam held a separate protest in Chowkidingee, Dibrugarh, calling for better wages, land rights, and the cancellation of the tourism project. They demanded a wage increase of Rs 550 per day and ownership rights for tea workers living on the estates.
Criticising the tourism project, a protester said, “The tea tourism project taken up by the state government is of no use to the workers. We demand its cancellation as it will not benefit them.”
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand to cancel the project
Demand for legal recognition of land rights
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Private
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Commercial, Residential area
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
300
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Legislations/Policies Involved
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
No
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Non-consultation with stakeholders
Lack of legal protection over land rights
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Luxmi Tea Company
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association, All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
Controversy erupts over Assam's 1000 MW solar power project in Karbi Anglong
EC for Sun Pharma's expansion in Vedanthangal bird sanctuary put to abeyance
Land acquisition for Turga storage project in West Bengal violates FRA
Hooghly residents in West Bengal oppose railway project over water body
Jindal Group returns land to West Bengal government, land losers demand jobs
Villagers in Odisha's Sundergarh protest over delay in R&R settlement for land acquired in 1988 for Mahanadi Coalfields
Displaced people of Lower Indra Irrigation project await rehabilitation
Farmers affected by Angul-Sukinda railway line in Odisha demand adequate compensation