Tea planters pleaded to the Union Government to bring natural gas under the ambit of GST
North Eastern Tea Association (NETA) stated that there is abnormal surge in Natural Gas price has become detrimental for the Tea Industry. This time the industry is hard hit by the multi fold increase of Gas price.
Kamal Jalan Chairman NETA stated, “It has been observed that during the last ten months, i.e., from July, 2021 to April, 2022 the price of Natural Gas has risen from Rs. 5,085.00 to Rs. 21,119.57 for per 1000 scum. The per scum price of the Natural Gas has gone up by four times during the last ten-month period”.
He added that this exorbitant hike in the price of Natural Gas has resulted increase in the Cost of Production (CoP) of Made Tea by not less than Rs.6 to Rs.8 per kg. Gas is used as fuel in the withering and drying of Tea leaves during processing.
With such increase in costs, if the prices of tea at the farm gate level does not increase then survival will be at stake. It is our earnest appeal to the Government to please take a serious note on this issue with immediate steps to curb the price of natural gas.
He added, “we appeal to the Union Government that for long term sustainability of tea industry natural gas may be brought under the ambit of GST”.
