PANJIM: Though tendering of cashew zones failed to get takers at auctions that commenced on Wednesday, Excise Department expects to earn at least Rs 35 lakh through the process.
Of 1671 cashew orchards, only 268 were auctioned, fetching the department Rs 14.6 lakh while the remaining zones will be tendered. Orchards in Sattari taluka were the first to be tendered on Wednesday, which would be followed by tendering of hundreds of other zones in Bardez and Pernem (March 7), Tiswadi and Bicholim (March 8), Mormugao, Quepem and Ponda (March 14) and Salcete, Canacona and Sanguem on March 15.
A government official said that though all zones might not be taken up, the department expects to collect Rs 35-36 lakh, the amount earned during the last financial year too.
