Gorkha Janmukti Morcha calls for ban on tea export
Darjeeling, Feb 23 : The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), demanding a state for Indian Gorkhas by dividing West Bengal, has decided to block tea export from Darjeeling hills.
GJM spokesman Rohit Sharma said the blockade of tea export was aimed at drying resources ofWest Bengal as the government earned huge revenue from tea export every year.
Darjeeling, which produces a variety of teas, famous for its aroma and flavour and widely exported to the European nations, have been facing tough situation for the past three decades due to Gorkhaland agitation and frequent management-labour disputes over wages.
Nearly 18,000 hectares come under tea cultivation in about 85 gardens with annual production around 7 million kgs and these gardens might face one of the toughest hardship if the GJM stuck to its decision to stop transportation of first flush tea beginning this month end.
The first flush is being plucked from third week of February till end of April and second flush begins from mid May up to June end.
The first two productions have huge demand and commands the lion share of the revenue, about 70 per cent, tea sources said.
Prof Sharma said the party leadership has decided to allow all the gardens to pluck and prepare for ''made tea'' but would block if any owner tried to export to the plains.
'' There is no fixed time when the economic blockade starts (blocking of tea export) as there is no fixed time for export,'' stated Prof Sharma.
Darjeeling, which produces a variety of teas, famous for its aroma and flavour and widely exported to the European nations, have been facing tough situation for the past three decades due to Gorkhaland agitation and frequent management-labour disputes over wages.
Nearly 18,000 hectares come under tea cultivation in about 85 gardens with annual production around 7 million kgs and these gardens might face one of the toughest hardship if the GJM stuck to its decision to stop transportation of first flush tea beginning this month end.
The first flush is being plucked from third week of February till end of April and second flush begins from mid May up to June end.
The first two productions have huge demand and commands the lion share of the revenue, about 70 per cent, tea sources said.
Prof Sharma said the party leadership has decided to allow all the gardens to pluck and prepare for ''made tea'' but would block if any owner tried to export to the plains.
'' There is no fixed time when the economic blockade starts (blocking of tea export) as there is no fixed time for export,'' stated Prof Sharma.
--UNI
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