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Kolkata, June 23 The Darjeeling tea planters, in an appeal, have urged the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha to reconsider its decision not to exempt the tea gardens in Darjeeling district from the purview of the bandh that has been called off for three days only to come into force again from June 26.

Mr Bimal Gurung, the leader of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, has been quoted as saying that the exemption granted to tea gardens so far in the bandh stands withdrawn and the gardens will come under the on-going bandh, which has been called off temporarily for three days.

The heritage Darjeeling tea industry, according to tea planters, is going through a critical phase of revival with fresh investments flowing into the gardens. New investments are being made also to revive some of the sick and closed gardens. The imposition of the bandh in such a situation will deal a severe blow to the industry which is still “weak and vulnerable”. The production so far in the current season has been 30 per cent lower than that in the same period of last year, it has been pointed out.

The gardens are now in the midst of premium second flush tea, which is the source of sustenance for the industry for the whole season. Any closure and disruption now will, therefore, permanently hit the cash flow of the industry, which, for the benefit of all concerned, sincerely prays for continuation of the exemption granted so far.

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