Bhubaneswar, May 18 -- By Ashutosh Mishra
Bhubaneswar: Cyclone Fani has laid waste huge coconut plantations in Puri district. The destruction is visible as one drives along national highway 306 from Bhubaneswar to Puri. Acres of coconut plantations have been flattened by the gale that wreaked unprecedented havoc on this land for more than three hours on May 3.
Enjoying tender coconuts on their way to Puri has been a habit with tourists visiting the temple town. One can still see piles of green coconuts along the roadside as one approaches Puri but they have lost their taste. Sellers, though, are desperate to get rid of their stocks which have begun to rot.
Coir industry, too, has been hit by the cyclone which has robbed a big chunk of th...