Darjeeling Tea Crisis: An Industrial LPG Shortage Threatens Operations

A severe LPG shortage is threatening to bring Darjeeling's tea estate operations to a grinding halt. The Darjeeling Tea Association has written to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, urging her immediate attention to the crisis that could impact 55,000 workers and their families.

In a letter dated March 17, the association highlights the tough situation tea estate factories are currently facing. An order from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, dated March 5, mandates that LPG supplies be prioritized for domestic consumers, excluding the tea industry.

The association, which heavily relies on industrial LPG for tea production, believes this issue could have catastrophic effects unless addressed urgently. The scarcity could disrupt the production of the highly sought-after first flush tea, jeopardizing the industry's financial stability.