Kolkata, Feb 27 (IANS): In an attempt to provide relief to the tea industry, West Bengal will be exempting interest on unpaid agricultural income and cess for the tea gardens as well as extend cess exemption for the industry.

"I propose to exempt tea estates from payment of the unpaid interest on both agricultural income tax and cesses that are outstanding on March 31, 2015 provided that all the unpaid dues of agricultural income tax and cesses are paid within a period of five years," state Finance Minister Amit Mitra said Friday while presenting the 2015-16 state budget to the assembly here.

The state has been providing primary education and rural employment cess exemption to the tea industry to keep input costs in control. The budget extended the exemption, set to end March 31 this year, till March 31, 2016.

Mitra said the state government is providing foodgrains in closed tea gardens and six Fair Price shops have already been opened in five closed gardens.

"Subsidised foodgrains is being provided to one lakh beneficiaries of 27 closed tea gardens", he said.

Tea workers affected by locked-out tea estates are getting subsidised rice at Rs.2 per kg and fortified atta at Rs.5 every 750 grams.

The finance minister said to rejuvenate five tea gardens of West Bengal Tea Development Corporation Ltd, the state has completed the process of private sector participation.

Mitra raised the allocation for the commerce and industries department by 10 percent to Rs. 653.5 crore from Rs. 594 crore in 2014-15.