Replantation requests to get Tea Board clearance soon

The Tea Board is likely to clear applications for replantation from south India under the special purpose fund by June end, Minister of State for Commerce and Industries Jairam Ramesh told reporters on Thursday.

The board has received 55 applications from south India, including 36 from Kerala, 17 from Tamil Nadu, and two from Karnataka, he said.

The Rs 4,760-crore special purpose fund was formed for replantation of 40-year-old tea plants. Of the total fund, nearly Rs 1,012 crore will be spent on tea estates in south India, he said.In 2006 (Jan-Dec), south India plantations accounted for nearly 25 per cent of the country's total tea output of 950 million kg.