Tea industry in Barak Valley to get Rs 252 crore from Centre:Jairam

Silchar, Jan 13 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh has said that the Centre would spend Rs 252 crore in next ten years for the development of tea industry in Barak Valley areas of south Assam.

''This fund is aimed at increasing quantum of tea production, coupled with improvement in quality and thus getting price,'' the minister said yesterday.

Mr Ramesh, while addressing a function at Sutarkandi near Indo-Bangladesh border in Karimganj district after inaugurating a border trade point, said, ''Price of the Barak Valley tea is much below its counterpart in Brahmaputra Valley in Asom and other parts of the country.'' The fund, which will be spent throughout the current decade, would see that the produce of 104 Tea Estates of the Valley get its due share and rank in the market, said the Commence minister.

Mr Ramesh said Centre would ensure proper utilisation of the fund for the wellbeing of 70,000 families depended upon the industry in Barak Valley and growth of tea, ''The tea bushes in Barak Valley are nearly 75 year-old and this is the main reason for decrease in production over the years. Under the fresh initiative of the Centre, the said fund is meant for replacing the old bushes and planting new plants, which calls for spending huge amount of fund,'' the minister said.

Ramesh also met the planters of Barak Valley in a meeting here and outlined the modalities for proper spending of the fund.

UNI