DA Editorial Desk | Sara Debbarma
Tripura has a problem that many states would envy: investors want to come. The Destination Tripura Business Conclave drew proposals worth roughly Rs 1.32 lakh crore, and several delegates have since asked the government for land. The difficulty is that the state has very little to give. Chief Minister Manik Saha reminded his audience this week that Tripura is the third smallest state in the country, and that about 70 per cent of its area is under reserved forest.
His answer is to offer unused tea estate land to investors. On the face of it, the idea is sensible. Officials say about 12,832 hectares are allotted for tea cultivation, while nearly 6,000 hectares are actually under cultivation. That leaves a large stretch that appears to lie idle, and the state Cabinet has already approved using such land for industrial and tourism projects. If the land is truly unused, leaving it fallow benefits no one.
The promise is real. Investors have spoken of tourism ventures, medical colleges and super-speciality hospitals. Each of these could bring jobs and keep patients and students in the state.
But the plan deserves questions before applause. The first is a simple one: why is the land unused? The reports do not say. Some of it may be uncultivable. Some may be land that estates have let lapse. Some may be land that workers or nearby villages depend on for grazing, firewood or housing. Until the government explains each category, “unused” is a label, not a fact.
The second question concerns the people of the tea estates. Their homes and livelihoods are tied to the gardens. Public reports do not say how many workers are affected, or what protections they would receive if land changes hands. Any allotment must safeguard their housing, wages and right to remain. Development that leaves tea workers worse off is not development worth the name.
The third question is about process. Land allotments are among the most sensitive decisions a government makes. The state should publish a clear list of the parcels available, the terms on which they will be offered and the criteria for choosing investors. Auctions or open applications are better than closed negotiations. The public should be able to see who gets what, and why.
The fourth is about promises. Investment proposals are not investments. A figure of Rs 1.32 lakh crore sounds impressive, but only projects that actually start count. The state should tie land allotment to firm timelines and penalties for projects that stall, so that scarce land is not locked up by those who never build.
None of this is an argument against the plan. Tripura needs land, and tea estates are a logical place to look. The test is whether the government can open the gate to investors while keeping faith with the workers and farmers who already live on this land. If it can, the experiment could become a model for other small states. If it cannot, it will become a lesson in how not to do it.