West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra on Monday proposed to extend the exemption granted to tea gardens from payment of rural employment cess and education cess till April 1, 2014.
The State Budget for 2012-13 had exempted tea gardens from payment of rural employment cess and education cess for a year from April 1, 2012.
The tea industry in the State is expected to save an estimated Rs 1 crore every month on account of the relief extended to the industry. With a production of 300 million kg annually, the State accounts for more than a quarter of the country’s total tea output.
According to a senior official in the Indian Tea Association (ITA), the move would greatly benefit the industry.
“Every tea garden is expected to pay education cess and rural employment cess on the quantity of green leaf produced. The exemption would have an overall positive impact on the industry in the State,” the official said.