Agartala, Sept 30: Tea gardens in Tripura are facing shortage of labourers following the expansion of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) scheme in all four districts of the State. A Tea Association of India (TAI) report revealed that about 40-42 per cent workers had deserted tea estates and joined the NREGA while about another 12 per cent workers were often availing the opportunities under the scheme, as most of the poor people had been provided job cards. Earlier, 14,000 labourers were registered with 57 tea gardens of the state but recently the industry had been facing a crisis with falling prices, exports and consumption in the international market. Tea Workers Association secretary Nirod Baran Das blamed the state government for the situation and alleged that the authorities had not intervened effectively to ensure better amenities and benefits for the workers.