Govt to issue EoI for 14 tea gardens on Monday

New Delhi, Jan 20 (UNI) With a view to revive tea industry, the government is likely to float expression of interests for reopening 14 closed tea gardens across the country tomorrow.

''The Law Ministry's clearance is awaited and hopefully we will issue the EoI for the tea gardens on Monday,'' Minister of State for Commerce Ministry Jairam Ramesh said here yesterday.

With this, the government will invoke Section 16 (E) of the Tea Act, 1953, which empowers the state to take over closed tea gardens.

He said out of the 14 tea gardens, nine are in West Bengal and the rest is in Kerala.

West Bengal contributes about 25 per cent to the total tea production of the country.

The West Bengal government had earlier invited bids for reopening two other closed tea gardens in West Bengal such as Ramjhora and Kathalgora tea estates.

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