Plant Quarantine & Fumigation Station, Kolkata was established in 1956 under the DIP Act which regulated the export/import of plants and plant materials into India. Since the year 2000, this office was elevated as its present status of Regional Plant Quarantine station and started functioning from its new premises at Salt Lake, Kolkata. The DIP Act also was later re-framed as Plant Quarantine Order (Import into India), 2003 and RPQS, Kolkata became the major implementing office in Eastern/North-Eastern India.
RPQS, Kolkata now supervises 22 sub-stations operating from different international borders and airports of the vast region. Its jurisdiction encompasses 12 states and 1 union territory. The parent office itself has two operational units at Salt Lake, Kolkata, looking after all maritime cargo, and NSCBI Airport, Kolkata. Together, these offices handle huge quantity of agricultural and plant origin export/import. During the last financial year, nearly 3 MMT cargo was inspected and certified by this office and the sub-offices. Apart from the basic inspection works, RPQS, Kolkata also performs accreditation for PQ treatment providers: presently there are 16 Treatment providers under NSPM – 9, 46 under NSPM – 12 & another 46 under NSPM 22 registered with RPQS, Kolkata (Total – 108). Further, there are nearly thirty Post Entry Quarantine Facilities, Pack Houses and Treatment Facilities where works are regulated and supervised by RPQS, Kolkata.
Being the zonal office of this region, RPQS, Kolkata has the responsibility of addressing all plant quarantine related issues of the region and has participated in several regional/international forums/workshops/seminars. This station also conducts hands – on – trainings for officials/stakeholders and imparts technical know – how in related fields for the state governments as well as departmental staff.
Following Plant Quarantine Stations are working under the jurisdiction of this office:
- Plant Quarantine Station, Bongaon, West Bengal
- Plant Quarantine Station, Haldia, West Bengal
- Plant Quarantine Station, Panitanki, West Bengal
- Plant Quarantine Station, Bagdogra, West Bengal
- Plant Quarantine Station, Kalimpong, West Bengal
- Plant Quarantine Station, Paradip, Orissa
- Plant Quarantine Station, Jogbani, Bihar
- Plant Quarantine Station, Raxaul, Bihar
- Plant Quarantine Station, Guwahati, Assam
- Plant Quarantine Station, Agartala, Tripura
- Plant Quarantine Station, Moreh, Manipur
- Plant Quarantine Station, Port Blair, A & N Islands
- Plant Quarantine Station, Changrabandha, West Bengal (Newly established LFS)
- Plant Quarantine Station, Ghozadanga, West Bengal (Newly established LFS)
- Plant Quarantine Station, Mehadipur, West Bengal (Newly established LFS)
