The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) has decided to reopen the closed cinchona factory in Darjeeling hills and install latest technology there.

Cinchona is medicinal plant that is the source for quinine and other compounds.

GTA chief Bimal Gurung would lay the foundation stone for the Rs 50 crore reconstruction project of the plant at Mungpoo here on April 3, G C Subba, Director of Cinchona and Medicinal Plants Department, said here.

The factory was closed for over 13 years, Subba told a press meet.

He said the reopening of the factory and production of medicines would rejuvenate the cinchona industry.

“People believe that Cinchona produces only anti-malarial medicines, but medicines for heart patients can also be produced from Cinchona,” he said.