HAILAKANDI, April 5 - The tea industry of Barak Valley was hit hard by hailstorms. While the hailstorms damage has been intense in the district of Hailakandi, severe damage has also been reported from the other tea growing districts of Barak Valley.
In a press statement, the secretary of the Barak Valley branch of the Tea Association of India (TAI), Dorodi Bhattacharjee, said that the widespread damage has been reported from gardens such as Aenakhal, Borojalingah, Pollorbond, Rampore, Bhubandhar, Bickrampore etc. Hailstorm damages are not uncommon during this period of the season, but what has impacted the Industry is the timing and the scale of damage. This is bound to retard the prospect of early flush and make dent in the overall production scenario of this year.
The tea industry in Barak Valley was looking forward to improve production this year and the extent of damage prompt this association to urge the district administration to approach the State government to declare this hailstorm damage as a �natural calamity� in garden areas so that some succour is received by the tea industries of Barak Valley, the release added.
