Imphal, March 28: Taking cognizance of the need to resuscitate the Tea Estate at Jiribam for exploiting the vast potential of development of tea industries in Manipur, recommendations have been made to the State Government for reviewing its policy of taking over Tea Estate at Jiribam and operating it as a separate department and for bringing out a white paper within a month's time to make the present status of the tea factory known to the people.

These recommendations among others are the outcome of the one day workshop on 'Tea Estate, Jiribam', held at the conference hall of State Guest House, Sanjenthong today.

The workshop was jointly organized by All Manipur Progressive Farmers' Association (AMPFA), Jiri Development Organization (JDO), National Identity Protection Committee (NIPCO) and United People's Front.

The workshop attended by many resource persons further recommended for conducting a techno-economic feasibility Study on the benefits that could be reaped from giving new impetus on development of tea industries in Manipur with its based at Jiribam.

It also resolved that report of the study should be made the basis for any strategic plans and programmes for development of the tea industries/Manipur Tea Estate in future.

Inaugurating the workshop as chief guest, Vice Chancellor of Manipur University Prof Ng Bijoy stressed on the need for reviving Manipur Tea Estate located at Jiribam for economic development of the State.

Jiribam with its existing communication, water and power facilities is best suited for developing it as an industrial township, he opined.

In his presidential address, vice chairman of Joint Committee of AMPFA, JDO, NIPCO and UPF H Indrakumar asserted that the potential of the Tea Estate established during 1980-81 could not be fully exploited due to lack of sincerity on the part of the official concerned and faulty policies of the Government.

Prof Amar Yumnam of Economics Department, MU, retired Director of Agriculture B Haridas Sharma, Registrar of MU RK Ranjan, retired professor of MU H Nabakishwor were among the resource persons who took part and read out papers during the workshop.

All the resource persons emphasized on the need for resuscitating the ailing tea factory, one of its kind in Manipur and suggested that development of tea industries could solve the problem of unemployment and economic backwardness in Manipur to a large extend.

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