GUWAHATI, June 30 � The Tea Association of India (TAI) today expressed the view that the land revenue and green leaf cess imposed by the Assam Government are the highest among all the tea producing states of the country and said that it should be reviewed.
In a pre-budget memorandum to the State Government, the TAI pointed out that the land revenue in Assam was increased from Rs nine per bigha to Rs 16 in the Barak valley and from Rs 12 to Rs 22 in the Brahmaputra valley with retrospective effect from 2003. The TAI said that the hike put unbearable burden to the tea gardens and demanded withdrawal of the retrospective effect and reduction of the current rate to bring it down to reasonable level.
The TAI said that the green leaf cess was increased from 32 paise to 40 paise in the Brahmaputra valley and from 29 paise to 35 paise per kg in the Barak valley with effect from January 1 last year. The rate of cess is very high considering the fact that in West Bengal is only 12 paise per kg, the memorandum said. The TAI also called upon the Government to fix a reasonable rate to make the tea industry of Assam competitive to the rest of the country.
The TAI said that the limit of investment on Plant and Machinery was enhanced to Rs five crore for SSI Units by the Ministry of Small Scale Industries, Government of India, but it was not accepted by the Sales Tax Authorities of Assam as there was no confirmation of it from the Finance Department. The Finance Department should issue necessary instructions in this regard immediately, the TAI demanded.
The TAI further said that the fee imposed by the Pollution Control Board is very high and demanded that it should be reviewed.
