The Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC) was vibrant on Tuesday as buyers and sellers came together under one roof after the suspension of mobile Internet services in Assam following protests over Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

Generally buyers operate from their homes, since the introduction of e-auction, but they were asked to come to the auction centre on Tuesday as there is provision for broadband line and lease line services there.

Last week, sale number 50 could not be completed because of protests outside the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC), the largest CTC auction centre in the country. It took place on Tuesday and, sources in the GTAC said, the demand for liquor and clean black teas appeared to be better than last week.

“Today was a throwback to the good old days of manual auctions when buyers were present physically at the auctions making the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre a vibrant place, a senior broker said.

“After many years, we saw buyers come together to participate in auction under one roof,” another broker said.

The last date for plucking of tea leaves in Assam has been extended from December 14 to 19.

The Tea Board said because of operational reasons on accounts of shortage/non-availability of workers for plucking of tea leaves, the September 14 order had been modified for strict and mandatory compliance.

The last date of processing of green leaf at the tea manufacturing units is December 21 and the last date for intimation/declaration to the Tea Board by all manufacturing units regarding closure of their manufacturing units is December 22.