Tea Inc, exporters, chambers laud select ease of lockdown

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kolkata:

Trade and industry bodies on Thursday vowed to extend all sorts of assistance to the state government in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, as chief minister Mamata Banerjee promised some relaxation for a few industrial sectors.

Notable among them was the permission for commencing skiffing operations at north Bengal estates “with a maximum of 15% of the active workforce at any point of time ensuring all norms of social distancing and proper hygienic practices”. “The Centre has asked us to throw open the tea gardens. We have talked with the stakeholders. We can allow a maximum 15% of the labour forces to do the plucking and pruning. Otherwise production is going to suffer in the next season,” the CM said.

Indian Tea Association (ITA) lauded the CM’s decision. "We appreciate the CM’s granting flexibility to estates in selecting the nature of activity while adhering to the safety and employment norms,” said ITA secretary-general Arijit Raha.

Indian Tea Exporters’ Association (ITEA) chairman Anshuman Kanoria said the order may be beneficial to Dooars gardens and few low-elevation gardens. Association (DTA) chairman Binod Mohan told TOI: “The state is making all efforts to restore normalcy step by step. The safety and health of our workers is above everything else.”

The ailing agri-based sector has claimed that it has lost a huge amount of money so far, amid the lockdown. The Tea Board of advised garden owners to consult with the respective district magistrates before commencing operations.

Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) may also get some relaxation for its exports from Bengal. The CM, during the interaction with industry captains, asked chief secretary Rajiva Sinha to look into the issue. “If it is possible without any harm, we can look at it,” she said. EEPC India chairman Ravi Sehgal had appealed to CM for access of engineering export to Haldia and port. “The engineering export from Bengal amounts to Rs 25,000 crore. It employs over two lakh people,” he said.

During the interaction, the president of Confederation of Trade Association, Sushil Poddar, said its members are ready to help the state. “Our members are involved in every kind of business including spare parts. We heard that rice mill owners and others are facing problems in procuring spare parts, we are ready to help.” Ficci eastern region president Rudra Chatterjee said that one of his group (Luxmi) firms has started manufacturing PPE (personal protective equipment) and can deliver the product soon. ICC president Mayank Jalan said his organisation would take care of two big markets in Barasat and Kolkata.