Hope there will no coordination problem : Tea Board chairman

Newly-appointed chairman of Tea Board Prabhat Kamal Bezbaruah today said that it was unlikely that there would be any coordination problem while discharging his non-executive powers in the functioning of the statutory body.
"I am sure that there will be no coordination problem between myself and the deputy chairman (an IAS officer) who will have all the executive powers in the running of Tea Board," Bezbaruah, who assumed office as its chairman yesterday, told PTI.
Bezbaruah, who is a Jorhat-based planter and the owner of Bokahola Tea Company, is the first non-IAS chairman of Tea Board selected from the industry.

The tea firm produces 5.5 million kg annually, he said.
Bezbaruah said that all the erstwhile executive powers of the chairman had been devolved on the deputy chairman, adding his role was only to advise.
"All the executive powers are with the deputy chairman. My job is to put across the viewpoint of the industry and it is upto to the deputy chairman to accept or reject," he said.

Bezbaruah said that the duties and responsibilities of the chairman and the deputy chairman are well-defined and hope there would be no overlapping.
Asked about the reaction of the industry on his appointment, Bezbaruah said "They are happy for it is someone from the same fraternity."

Existing deputy chairman Santosh Sarangi, an IAS officer, had been looking after Tea Board affairs after the departure of chairman MGVK Bhanu.
Bezbaruah had also been the chairman of Tea Research Association (TRA).