Tea Crop damaged by dolomite mines

Ahalya Gram , West Bengal : Rivers and streams situated in the Himalayan foothills of West Bengal have been turning white and murky, due to heavy discharge of waste by dolomite mines operating in the hills.

Rivers and streams have been turning white and planters in the tea-rich area complain that the dolomite flows to their gardens, spoiling the soil and crops.

"The erosion happening here is no small phenomenon that can be undone by one tea estate. The government or the health authorities have to intervene. The initiative would involve a lot of investment," said Subhashsish Kar, manager, Mission Hill Tea Estate, the biggest plantation in the region.

Over 16 acres of the Mission Hill Tea Estate alone has turned infertile due to erosion and deposition.

Most of the settlement around tea estates comprises of workers' colonies. At least 120 households have had to move away to settlements near relatively safe water sources.

"I have lost appetite and my whole body itches. Our children keep falling ill. There have been cases of diarrhoea as well. Stomach ache is common," said Laxman Saha, a Mission Hill employee.

The dolomite menace is yet another hit to the region's tea estates, many of which are reeling under losses and facing closure.

In all aspects of tea, - - production, consumption and export, India has emerged a world leader. The country accounts for 31 percent of global tea production.

It is perhaps the only industry where India has retained its leadership over the last 150 years.

The total turnover of the Indian tea industry is around Rs. 10,000 crores. Since independence tea production has grown over 250 percent, while land area has just grown by 40 percent.

There has been a considerable increase in export too in the past few years. Total net foreign exchange earned per annum is around Rs. 1847 crores.

The labour intensive tea industry directly employs over 1.1 million workers and generates income for another 10 million people approximately. Women constitute 50 percent of the workforce.

Tea trading in the domestic market is done in two ways- Auction and Private Selling. Market Reports are received from the six major auction centres in India, namely, Kolkata , Guwahati, Siliguri, Cochin, Coonoor, Coimbatore and N.I. teauction.com Bulk trading is done through the auctions held in these centres.

Source: ANI