Guwahati, Aug. 19 -- Two historic Assam tea estates, Chinamara and Bholaguri, are slated to vanish as the Assam government has decided to allot their land for a new satellite township and a university.

This move marks a significant blow to the state's tea industry and its heritage, signaling a potential end for the 53-year-old Assam Tea Corporation (ATC), an institution that has been a cornerstone of the state.

The fate of the tea estates is unfolding amidst controversy surrounding the ATC's leadership. Rakesh Agarwal, the managing director, remains in his position despite his alleged lack of enterprise management experience in the tea industry.

Under his tenure, the ATC has already leased ten of its tea plantations to private entities...