Rs 4700 crore package for NE tea industry

Aizawl, Feb 16: Union Commerce Ministry has announced Rs 4,700 crore tea package to promote tea industry in the northeast and the first disbursements will begin in June.

A Special Purpose Tea Fund of Rs 4,700 crore has been sanctioned for the revival of the tea sector and 15 per cent of it is earmarked for Asom, Commerce ministry officials here today said.

Apart from that, the ministry has taken up the issue with the Ministry of External Affairs to open more trade routes between the northeastern states and the neighbouring nations of Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and China.

They expressed dissatisfaction over the nature of border trade with Myanmar at Moreh border trade point along Manipur and said, ''We exchange only 22 items as of now with Myanmar and it is limited to residents living along the border.'' Centre has sanctioned Rs 200 crore to develop four world-class land custom stations at Moreh in Manipur, Dawki in Meghalaya, Sutarkandi in Asom and Agartala, which will have facilities for international trade, customs, immigration and banking.

UNI