GUWAHATI, June 8 ? The State Government has decided to sell off the 14 gardens of the Assam Tea Corporation (ATC) to overcome the prevailing financial crisis in the oldest corporation. The State Government has also asked the Corporation to invite tenders from interested parties to finalise a deal in this regard. It may be recalled that, earlier the chief minister, Sri Tarun Gogoi had asked the Corporation to lease out the gardens, but due to some problems, the private parties had to back out from the process.
Official sources today informed The Assam Tribune that the deal would be finalised within two months considering the gravity of the problem. ?Several parties have responded to our tenders and this time the Corporation would be able to solve the prevailing crisis,? the source added. The 14 gardens of the Corporation scattered over six districts of the State are in dire straits due to political interference by the successive governments for which, the Corporation is yet to clear the salaries of the employees.
In this context, the sources, however said that the gardens of Nagaon district and Barak Valley have been earning profit, but the rest have incurred huge losse. During last year the total loss of the Corporation stood at Rs 23 crore, as a result of which, the ATC is facing serious problems, they added. On selling off of the gardens, the sources revealed that over 30 parties have come forward to take over the gardens and selection would be made after a thorough scrutiny.
Disappointed with the delay in finalising a deal, several organisations have criticised the State Government. An Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) leader said that the State Government had totally ignored the plight of 16,000 employees of the oldest corporation. He also demanded the State Government to take urgent remedial steps for the sake of the employees. The Assam Tribal Sangha has also appealed to the State Government to arrive at an amicable solution.