By IANS
New Delhi : Nine of 17 closed tea gardens in Kerala have reopened after the owners availed of a rehabilitation package announced by the central government recently, an official statement said Sunday.
“The two closed tea gardens in Assam have got a new management, which is in the process of restarting the garden,” the statement said, adding that in Kerala, five more gardens were also expected to reopen soon.
The government had announced the rehabilitation package three months ago for 33 gardens that were closed as on April 1.
The package was basically announced since more than 30,000 workers were employed in them.
“The package provides for restructuring of the outstanding bank dues, provision of fresh working capital with interest subsidy, waiver of outstanding loan dues to the Tea Board and settlement of provident fund dues in instalments.”
Once the accounts of these gardens get regularised, they would be eligible for term loans for replanting under the Special Purpose Tea Fund, and upfront subsidy for the machinery items under the Quality Upgrade Scheme of the Tea Board.
The statement said in West Bengal one out of 14 gardens that were closed has reopened and started functioning. This apart, three are in the process of being taken over by a new management.