Although the tea planters had expressed satisfaction that the Bharat system was going to be set aside as it had led to lower price realisations since April when the system was introduced, they desperately wanted the two auctions in September and October to be held anyhow for their cash requirements
On Monday, the Tea Board issued a letter to the auction centres and stakeholders, saying that at a meeting held with Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal with the stakeholders on September 22, in Delhi, 'instruction was passed to bring in practices of the erstwhile English Auction model'
According to the report, circulars were issued where the tea board told all importers to ensure that the origin of imported tea is mentioned in all sale invoices. The tea buyers were also directed not to blend imported tea with tea of Darjeeling/ Kangra/ Assam (orthodox)/ Nilgiri (orthodox).