People to pay and engage in Jatropha and tea plantations
August 30, 2007 - In Chin State, Burma the residents are being asked to dole out money by the local administration to carry on with the junta's unsuccessful projects such as Jatropha and tea plantations.
Picture - Tea and Jatropha seeds.
U Lai To, president of Thangtlang Township's Peace and Development Council (TPDC) had ordered every household in Thangtlang town to contribute Kyat 8,000 for half a kilogram each of tea and Jatropha seeds which would be provided to the people.
Each household has been instructed to sow tea and Jatropha seeds on two acres each on the outskirts of the town. Around 200 government employees have not been spared either and have to engage themselves in the plantation.
The TPDC authorities have been following orders from Major General Hung Ngai, the new tactical commander stationed in Hakha, capital of Chin state.
The deadline to submit the money to the local administration office in Thangtlang is the end of August.
The current price of Jatropha seed is Kyat 6,000 a kilogram while tea seed is Kyat 8,000 for a kilogram in Chin state. It is mandatory for locals to buy tea and Jatropha seeds from the Quarter or block head offices.
"They are pushing the people since the plantations were unsuccessful and not in keeping with their expectations," the local in Chin State said.
"Many people still have to pay the money for tea and Jatropha seeds," he added.
The authorities have proposed sites near the upper Langwa River located between Lunglen village and Thangtlang town for sowing the seeds.
In March this year, the authorities collected money to the tune of around Kyat 500,000 from each household from villages in Thangtlang, only after which they provided tea and jatropha seeds to villagers."The authorities have vowed to push the people till their plans succeed," the local added. – Khonumthung.
