DOOMDOOMA, July 14 - Of late, MK Shah Export Limited, a major tea company having several tea estates in the State purchased eight big tea gardens of Doomdoma and Margherita Circle from another tea giant McLeod Russel India Limited. The tea gardens are Beesakopie, Daimukhia, Raidang, Samdang, Koomsong, Bordubi and Phillobari.
Since the new company took over these eight gardens, the company authority ordered the managers of these gardens to produce at least 70% orthodox tea in their gardens.
Consequently, the managers of these eight gardens stopped buying green tea leaves from the small tea growers. The previous owner of these gardens made an agreement with the small tea growers of buying green leaf from them as per proposal given by ABITA. But the new owner of these gardens abruptly cancelled those agreements and stopped buying leaves from the small tea growers.
Moreover, these gardens owe crores of rupees to the small tea growers for purchasing their green leaves since April this year. The green leaf providers urged the company to clear their outstanding dues within July 15 or they would take up an agitational programme.
