Approval For Closed Tea Gardens Financial Package Soon

Kolkata: The financial package prepared by the Commerce Ministry for the rehabilitation of the country's 33 closed tea gardens is now before the Planning Commission and the Finance Ministry for consideration. Kerala has 17 of these gardens, West Bengal 14 and Assam two. The package, as the Minister explained, would provide for rescheduling of bank loans, infusion of fresh term loans at subsidised rate of interest and sanction of working capital, waiver of all dues to the Tea Board and waiver of penalties for non-payment of various statutory dues. The package would impose a financial burden of Rs 58 crore on the Union Government and another Rs 80 crore on banks.