Ilam, Aug. 13: Tea entrepreneurs in Ilam district are in protest, citing export tax from the district was excessively increased on produced tea. A total of 29 small and large scale tea factories of the district jointly submitted a protest letter to the District Administration Office on Tuesday. Tea industrialists, businessmen, small farmer, employees, workers, among others have been affected after the District Development Committee increased the tax by 100 per cent, states the protest letter. Now, the export tax on produced tea has been fixed as Rs 2 for each kg produced tea this year, which was Re 1 last year.
Whereas, the DDC said that the tax on produced tea was increased this year as it was not increased for the past 10 years. Account Officer at the DDC, Dinesh Kumar Pokhrel said that they have increased the tax only by one rupee as it was not increased for the past 10 years. The tea entrepreneurs said that they could only pay 40 paisa for each kg of tea. Around 3.5 million kg of orthodox tea is produced in the district every year. The tea entrepreneurs have warned of launching phase-wise protest programme by closing tea factories if the increased tax was not reviewed. -Krishi Weekly
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