Molbung Tea Estate lying abandoned since 2009
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, May 22 2014 : With the Government looking the other way, the Molbung Tea Estate in Imphal East's Jiribam subdivision is today lying abandoned in a shabby condition, thus encouraging people to encroach upon the land of the tea garden.

In fact, more than 10 illegal private houses have already been been constructed inside the tea garden.

A team of All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) led by its president Wangkhemcha Shyamjai paid a visit to Jiribam, bordering Assam, from May 15-17 to oversee the present condition of Molbung tea Estate.

From the initial area of 425 acres of land, this tea estate was further expanded by another 100 acres by the Government of Manipur after mass tea leaves production generated huge amount of to the State exchequer, said AMWJU president Shyamjai here Thursday.

But when the media team visited the tea estate, it was found lying abandoned since 2009.Consequently, the productivity of the tea estate has also declined, Shyamjai said, while informing that more than 10 illegal private houses were also found constructed inside the tea garden.

After the downsizing policy of the State Government in 2000, the entire staff of Molbung Tea Estate has been removed.

But the tea garden is now running under two officials who are appointed on contractual basis.

It is currently run by one Field Officer and one Field Assistant Officer who get Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively as monthly salaries.

However, the two officials told the media team that the Government owed their three years' pay.

Field Assistant officer A Joykumar told the media team that the tea garden currently produces nearly 500 kg of green tea leaves every day and the product is supplied to a tea factory in Assam.

Earlier, the tea estate could yield up to 5,000 kg of tea leaves of A-Grade category a day and its product was considered to be of superior quality.

But not any more, both in term of the quantity as well as quality of the product.

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