:
(a) whether in order to meet its mission service the Church are entering into tea business in North East States of the country;
(b) whether the Church have indicated the sources from which they would make investment in the tea industry; and
(c) if so, the details in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ( SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY )
(a) to (c) : One tea garden, namely Mornai Tea Estate, located in the Kokrajhar District of Assam, has been managed by the Trust Association of the Northern Evangelical Luthern Curch, Dhumka, Bihar since 1890. The garden has a grant area of 570.34 ha. out of which 410 ha. are under tea. Apart from this big garden, the following three small holdings have been registered by the Christian Missionaries with the Tea Board :
Name of Garden Area registered with Tea Board Year of Registration
Baithabhanga (GELC) Mini T.P Gossner 4.06 hectares 1977 Evangelical Lutheran Church District Sonitpur, Assam
Barkutia Tea Catholic Church, Borgang 2.24 hectares 2000 District Sonitpur, Assam
John Paul Chaah Bagicha Catholic Mission, 3.11 hectares 2001 Salona District Nagaon, Assam