Mr Deba Prasad Roy and Tea Boad of India and litle hope again for Tea industry in Jalpaiguri

Jalpaiguri MLA Mr Deba Prasad Roy informed that the Tea Board of India was introducing several steps for the development of tea infrastructure in north Bengal.
The MLA had written to the Union minister of state for commerce and industry, Mr Jairam Ramesh, urging him to initiate steps for the development of tea infrastructure in north Bengal, the Tea Board of India has recently sent him a letter informing about its proposed steps on the matter.

“I particularly mentioned the condition of the Tea Research Sub-station at Nagrakata and urged improving its infrastructure. The Tea Board has sanctioned Rs 20 crore as the centenary grant for the Tea Research Association out of which Rs 3.5 crore has been allotted for the development north Bengal's tea infrastructure.”

Around Rs 2 crore out the Rs 3.5 crore has been granted for upgrading the Nagrakata sub-station and to make it a regional sub-station of north Bengal. Rs 1 crore would be spent for the construction of a ‘Centenary Training Complex’ in Nagrakata and Rs 50 lakh for a training centre and hostel for the small tea growers in the Terai,” said Mr Roy.

Mr Roy also stated that a fund of Rs 5 crore has been sanctioned for upgrading the Darjeeling Tea Research Centre. “The project would help improve the centre and allow research in organic tea cultivation.

The Tea Board has also taken up an organic tea project under which they have selected a tea plantation of Darjeeling and the outcome would be shared with the other tea plantations,” Mr Roy said.

The Tea Board would also introduce a marketing logo for the first time for teas produced in the Terai and Dooars.

The MLA said that the proposed logo is under process of registration. “A tea park is also being set up in Siliguri to provide modern facilities regarding packaging and blending of tea and a survey of the small tea growers would soon start. A pilot project to improve the dismal sanitation system in the plantation workers’ quarters is also on the cards,” the MLA said.