Dibrugarh, March 22 : Assam industries minister Pradyut Bordoloi today told bought leaf tea manufacturers to ensure quality control or face penal action as the government is all set to frame laws to protect the good name of Assam tea.
Voicing concern over the ever deteriorating quality of tea produced in Assam, Bordoloi, without mincing words, said the state government would not sit idle any longer and legal steps would be initiated against anybody found compromising on the quality of tea.
“I am sorry to say but it is a fact that many of you never cared to ensure that tea produced in your factories adheres to the quality standards. Rather, many of you are indulging in unscrupulous activities to boost production,” Bordoloi said while speaking as chief guest at the first ever annual general meeting of the Assam Bought Leaf Tea Manufacturers’ Association at the Bharatiya Cha Parishad hall here today.
He said from now on all factories, “be it in the organised or the unorganised sector,” would be subject to quality certification so that tea produced in Assam gets back its lost glory.
The state government has decided to introduce a legislation in the next Assembly session so that those entrusted with the job of ensuring quality benchmarks are equipped to crack the whip on erring tea producers and bought leaf factory owners. “Highly professional and reputed independent agencies will be involved in this venture and the state government has worked out a detailed plan in collaboration with the Tea Board of India,” Bordoloi said.
