Palamu tobacco traders make brisk biz

Daltonganj: On a day when government and private authorities are holding anti-tobacco awareness drives, those in the business said they are doing brisk business and it brings hefty revenues. In Palamu, smoking bidi is rare, but chewing tobacco is quite common. From government offices to railway platforms, the stains of chewing tobacco tell the tales.Wholesale dealer Sanjay Agrawal said, “Bihar’s tobacco has a very good market in Palamu in comparison to Uttar Pradesh. People say it is more flavourful and the taste lingers in the mouth.”Asked if there is any upward swing in the tobacco market in Daltonganj, he said, “There has been a considerable jump in the chewing tobacco trade here. There was a time in Daltonganj when there were just one or two chewing tobacco wholesalers. Now it’s around a dozen.” Tobacco comes from Bihar by road in Daltonganj. One bundle of chewing tobacco weighing one quintal costs around Rs 4,500.“On an average, 17 to 18 vehicles of chewing tobacco arrive in Daltonganj every month,” said Agrawal.Joint commissioner of state taxes, Daltonganj, Mithilesh Kumar, said, “There is a big market for chewing tobacco in Daltonganj. Chewing tobacco comes under the GST. Our people keep tabs on tobacco and its products for the collection of state taxes.”
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