The Hindu Business Line : ‘Financial package for sick tea gardens soon’

Kochi, Oct 2 The Union Commerce Ministry is planning to introduce a financial package for sick tea gardens in line with the packages given to closed tea gardens in the country, the Union Minister of State for Commerce, Mr Jairam Ramesh, has said.

“So far all our packages have been for closed tea gardens. Now, we are working on a package for sick gardens,” the Minister said here. He pointed out that there are some sick tea gardens which could close if incentives are not provided.

The Minister said of the 1,654 tea gardens in India, 33 were closed.

Kerala has 154 tea gardens. Of the 17 closed gardens in the State, nine had recently opened and four have expressed desire to open. West Bengal has 300 tea gardens of which 14 are closed, while Assam has 1,200 gardens of which two are closed.

On the proposal to take over closed tea gardens in Kerala and West Bengal under Section 16 (E) of the Tea Act, 1953, the Minister said a committee under Mr O.P. Arya, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, which had been constituted to put into effect the Section, will operationalise Section 16 (E).

The Ministry has carried out a review in this regard. In West Bengal, of the 14 closed tea gardens, the preliminary assessment is that six gardens will require Section 16 (E). In Kerala, of the 17 closed tea gardens four or five tea gardens could face action under the Section. Discussions had been held with the West Bengal Government and the process of invoking the Section in West Bengal was being finalised. However, the Minister hoped that there is no need to use the Section in Kerala and Assam.