Decks cleared for tea despatch from Darjeeling gardens

KOLKATA: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has lifted the ban on the movement of tea from Darjeeling tea estates. It had imposed the ban a few weeks ago as part of its protracted agitation. From Saturday, the 87 Darjeeling tea estates will be able to despatch their premium first flush teas, which were lying in the estates.

Sanjay Bansal, chairman of Darjeeling Tea Association (DTA), told ET: ���We had discussions with the president of Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union PT Sherpa on this issue.

After extensive discussions with the union, which is the labour union arm of GJM, we decided to withdraw the ban from March 14, 2009. This is a great relief for the tea industry, as premium first flush tea is a major revenue earner for the industry.���

DTA also met the chief secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty to discuss the list of GJM demands that have been sent to the gardens in Darjeeling.

GJM has demanded monthly subscriptions from the staff and workers of the gardens according to their seniority. Similarly, GJM has also asked planters not to deposit any tax with the West Bengal government.

GJM has also demanded that Darjeeling tea should be auctioned in Darjeeling and not at other auction centres. The party has also demanded that Darjeeling tea should be branded as the produce of Gorkhaland.

���The chief secretary has said that he would visit Siliguri next week and look into these issues. The secretary will meet us again on next Thursday to discuss these issues,��� Mr Bansal said.