GUWAHATI, June 9 ? Despite a resolution passed in the State Assembly and demands by a delegation of the State Legislators, the Union Commerce Ministry is yet to take any step for the shifting of the headquarters of the tea companies and the office of the Tea Board from Kolkata to Guwahati.
In a memorandum to the Union Minister for Commerce and Industries, AGP legislator Sarbananda Sonowal and AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya said that despite being the largest tea producing State in the country, Assam was not getting its due benefits from the industry. As most of the headquarters of the tea companies are located at Kolkata, all the transactions relating to supplies, insurance, bank transactions, etc, are conducted in West Bengal, the memorandum said.
The memorandum pointed out that about 256 various items worth Rs 600 crore are purchased in Kolkata by the tea companies. The crop insurance of more than Rs 32 crore per annum and bank transactions worth Rs 2000 crore are carried out through the financial institutions in Kolkata. To run the administration, legal affairs, exports, etc, people are recruited in West Bengal. Because of such practices, Assam is not only losing revenue, but the unemployed youths of the State are deprived of earning their livelihood, the memorandum said.
Sri Sonowal and Sri Bhattacharya said while the people of Assam have been demanding shifting of the headquarters of the tea companies and the office of the Tea Board from Kolkata to Assam, an all-party delegation of the State Assembly also demanded the same.
?But we have come to know from the officials of the Tea Board that nothing has been done by the Commerce Ministry in this regard. They also informed us that unless the Ministry put pressure on the companies and issued specific directions to the Tea Board, the shifting of the headquarters of the companies and office of the Board is not possible,? the memorandum added. Sri Sonowal and Sri Bhattacharya called upon the Union Commerce Minister to fulfil the demand of the people of the State so that the people of Assam can involve themselves in promotion of tea industry in the State.