GUWAHATI, Oct 1 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone for setting up the tea tourism hub at Tocklai on Sunday in the presence of Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Speaker of the State Assembly Hitendra Nath Goswami, Jorhat MP Kamakhya Tasa and senior officials of the Tea Research Association (TRA) and the tea industry. This signature project announced in the Assam Budget is under the Uttoron scheme of the Assam Government through which MLAs of respective constituencies are supposed to take development schemes of importance in their constituency. This was stated in a press release here today.
Laying the foundation stone, Sonowal stated that Assam is known all over the world for its one-horned rhino and tea. Tocklai being known all over the world as the oldest and largest research and development (R&D) centre, this project taken by up by Hitendra Nath Goswami will help the tea industry to take advantage of its tourism potential and bring in more tourist and revenue for the state.
Himanta Biswa Sarma said that this innovative project will help the beleaguered tea industry which off late has been struggling and has not been able to bring in new innovation to survive and sustain. Kamakhya Tasa thanked Hitendra Nath Goswami for selecting Tocklai, which has a global reputation for its innovative R&D on tea.
Chief Minister Sonowal said that Tocklai Tea Tourist hub will be connected to tourism circuit of Kaziranga National Park and Majuli Island for the tourist to enjoy. Dr AK Barooah, Director, TRA gave details of the R&D work taken up by Tocklai and Prabhat Bezboruah, chairman, TRA stated that funds have been a problem for Tocklai. He stated that the project from Assam Government would bring in revenue once the facility is fully developed.
It may be stated that Hitendra Nath Goswami has decided to make Tocklai the tea tourism hub, which will bring into focus the importance of Jorhat city as the Mecca of Indian tea industry.
Joydeep Phukan, secretary, TRA said that through the project, the necessary infrastructure at Tocklai will be developed to attract tourists and to make them feel the glory of the Assam tea industry. Tocklai has two tea estates namely Tocklai Tea Estate and Borbhetta Tea Estate where tourists can pluck tea and thereafter make their own teas at the Tocklai factory.
Tocklai campus area, which is 39-acre in size, has a number of colonial-period bungalows and the iconic 90-year-old guest house, which will be thrown open for the tourists to stay and enjoy the ambience. Day tours to gardens and laboratories will be organised for the tourists to be a part of the tea they drink everyday in their lives.
The Chief Minister also launched the Tocklai brand of teas at the same function. These teas are exquisite yellow and green teas having high level of antioxidants. It may be noted that Industry Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary encouraged Tocklai to produce yellow tea and the same has been developed and made available by Tocklai as per his advice. Tocklai plans to sell its teas through its tea lounge at Tocklai and through online platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart.
