Silchar, Dec. 23: The Tea Board has decided to take steps in connection with the ongoing crisis in the industry.

The board will crack the whip on recalcitrant tea gardens which have regularly failed to submit monthly returns under Clause VII of the Tea Marketing Control Order, 2003 on their sales in domestic and overseas markets.

In a recent circular to all tea companies, the Tea Board disclosed that in order to facilitate timely submission of monthly returns, it has appointed a private agency to collect such returns from manufacturers, wholesale distributors and exporters.

The board has also warned that non-compliance with this order would result in a fine up to a maximum of Rs 1,000 on the errant firm.