West Bengal govt allows e-auction of tea amid lockdown

The West Bengal government on

Tuesday allowed the tea industry to conduct e-auction amid the lockdown, but in strict adherence to social distancing norms and other guidelines in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

State Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha issued an order allowing the e-auction. The order said that e-auction should be held after observing social distancing norms and other guidelines in the wake of the coronavirus spread. The Secretary of Calcutta Tea Traders Association (CTTA), J Kalyansundaram, said, "We welcome the decision."

"We had requested the government to allow the conduct of e-auction in tea after the lockdown came into effect," he said. The last e-auction was held on March 17, he said.

 

The CTTA conducts e-auction in Kolkata. Kalyansundaram said the government's letter has been forwarded to the sale sub-committee for preparing the future sales programmes. The government had earlier allowed plucking of tea in the gardens with 25 per cent of the workforce.