Raj Bhavan to brew campus-grown organic tea

ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK, 08 Sept: “Raj Bhavan has always been associated with having the most acclaimed variety of flora. Be it for its famous Orchids or the rare bamboo plants in the compound, we have always lived up to this acclamation,” said Governor BP Singh at the plantation of the first tea saplings here in the Raj Bhavan complex this morning.
The Governor was accompanied by the Commerce & Industries Minister, Neeru Sewa, and Chairman Tea Board, Gagan Rai, at the plantation of the ‘Raj Bhawan Organic Tea Garden’ today. Raj Bhavan officials inform that eight acres of land in the complex will be brought under organic tea plantation in a phased manner in the complex. Temi Tea Estate is providing the technical expertise for the project.
While expressing his happiness, the Governor also informed that the Industries Minister has assured that tea plantation will be carried out at the Raj Bhavan complex again next year.
“I have taken an assurance from the Hon’ble Minister that next year we will come together once again but that time there will be tea bushes all around,” he said.
He added that the objective behind the plantation was to make Raj Bhavan an exemplary place having a variety of organic flowers and plants to be cherished by all in the future.
“It is now upto the Governors who come to Raj Bhawan in the future; who knows maybe there will be an animal husbandry unit too here someday,” he said.
The altitude of Raj Bhawan estate as well as the fertile soil in the area is conducive to tea plantation. After the harvesting is over, the leaves will be sent to Temi Tea Estate for processing. The tea grown here will be used solely for Raj Bhavan purposes. The project is an initiative of the Governor.
The programme was also attended by the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, MG Kiran, officials from Commerce & Industries Department and Temi Tea Estate along with officers and employees of Raj Bhawan.