IT News
Jiribam, Nov 23:
MP Dr. RK Ranjan expressed shock and displeasure in witnessing the present condition of Jiribam Tea Estate located at Jiribam. The MP was speaking to Imphal Times on the sideline of his visit to Jiribam.
Dr Ranjan said, “ The Jiribam Tea Estate was initiated by Manipur Plantation Crop Corporation and infrastructure was built during the tenure of A.Biren. However the present condition of the estate is very unfortunate. Neglecting the tea estate, which is a matter of pride and source of income for the state is a loss for the state as a whole. “
Recalling his last visit to the estate in 2014, the MP said the present condition is very much different to what he witnessed last time and many items from the estate including iron, tin roof etc are missing and questions the motive behind such uncivilized act. He further said, with an aim to revive Manipur Tea, a formal request was sent to Assam Tea Board and to then Union Minister of Trade and Industry, Nirmala Sitharaman, wherein the Assam Tea Board gave assurances to help in every possible ways in reviving Manipur Tea. Consequent with this request, a total survey was conducted by Assam Tea Board at Jiribam, Tamenglong and Ukhrul where Jiribam is identified to be highly potential for Tea Plantation and Production. With some training for pruning and plantation, it has the potential for export quality, states the report by Assam Tea Board and this report was sent to Manipur Government. MP Ranjan asserts, there was no BJP Government at that time and the letter sent by the Tea board was neglected by the then Congress Government of that time. Reviving this tea estate was included in the Vision Document of 2017 by the BJP and however no action can be initiated so far in this regard.
MP Dr.Ranjan recalled the origin of Tea to Manipur, as included in the Britannica Encyclopedia. He feels that much needed to be done in regard to the present condition of infrastructure in Jiribam Tea Estate, which is a matter of pride and income source for the state of Manipur.