West Bengal govt allows e-auction of tea amid lockdown

Kolkata, Apr 21 () The West Bengal government onTuesday allowed the tea industry to conduct e-auction amid thelockdown, but in strict adherence to social distancing normsand other guidelines in the wake of the COVID-19pandemic.

State Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha issued an orderallowing the e-auction.The order said that e-auction should be held afterobserving social distancing norms and other guidelines in thewake of the coronavirus spread.The Secretary of Calcutta Tea Traders Association(CTTA), J Kalyansundaram, said, "We welcome the decision."

"We had requested the government to allow the conductof e-auction in tea after the lockdown came into effect," hesaid.The last e-auction was held on March 17, he said.

The CTTA conducts e-auction in Kolkata.Kalyansundaram said the government's letter has beenforwarded to the sale sub-committee for preparing the futuresales programmes.The government had earlier allowed plucking of tea inthe gardens with 25 per cent of the workforce. dcSBN SBN