Dhumal writes to Centre for revival of Kangra Tea

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has asked the Centre for a special package to revive the traditional Kangra Tea — one of the oldest variety of tea grown in the country since the British period.

In this regard, the state government has written to Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma and also Tea Board of India several times, but has not received any satisfactory response.

Opposing the move to release out the tea gardens, Dhumal had reiterated the state government’s resolve to rejuvenate Kangra Tea since the tea planters were in real distress and needed immediate help. “Leasing out the tea gardens either to a state agency or a professional company will not be acceptable to the tea planters. Instead, it will be in their interest to link them with some good private company for marketing purposes and ensure better return for the produce,” the chief minister wrote. Such a move would motivate tea planters to adopt better practices and produce good quality tea, he added.

Dhumal also told the Centre that the state government had sent its proposal for the revival of Kangra Tea in May 2010, which included rejuvenation and re-plantation in the existing active and abandoned areas, besides identifying new potential areas. The proposed package has several other components too.

Indian Express