Struggle against Natural Disaster Impact in Kakheti

Hailed vine-yards, annihilated fruit-trees and vegetables, blocked central motorways – it is the general situation in several villages of Gurjaani district as a result of heavy rain and hail of May 14. Almost 100 % of the harvest was annihilated in the villages of Chandari, Vejini, Bakurtsikhe, Kolagi and Dzirkoki. Almost one thousand families were left without drinking water; heavy rain flooded many houses. The roads and other infrastructural constructions were also damaged; several outfall facilities shall be renovated in Gurjaani too. The hail was accompanied with strong wind and it farther aggravated the impact. Special commission was set up to calculate the damage.

“Even trees were left without leaves; I do not remember similar disaster in my 51-year age. I thought it was January. We hoped for this harvest and now we are left without any income. What shall we do in winter,” Sergo Darchiashvili from Bakurtsikhe said.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture Davit Galegashvili and Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure Davit Narmania visited the zone of natural disaster.

Galegashvili said that the government’s number one priority is to poison vine-yards and fruit-trees with special substances to save trees from withering. Later, some formula will be created to assist the victimized population.

The infrastructural damage amounted to 392 000 lari after the disaster.

Davit Narmania said money will be allocated to local self-governments from the budget’s reserve foundation in order to eradicate the impact. Ravines will be cleaned; infrastructure and roads will be renovated. 

Mikheil Mamalashvili, Kakheti