BARISAL. Feb. 1 ; Crops on more than 70.000 acres of land under 'Satla Bagda ’rriga tion Project' are yet to be saved from the flood and water logging.

The project is situated in the southwestern i»art of Gopalganj and northwestern part of Barlsal district

The project area covers a total 72,200 acres of land In seven upazilas including Kotal ipara and Tuglpara of Gopal ganj. Gournadt. Uzirpur, Ba nartpara and Ageriljhara of Barlsal and Nazirpur of Piro jpur districts.

The objective of the project was to protect the area from flood and raise agricultural production by building em bankmc-ts and drainage regu la tors

In 1982 National Economic Council recommended the project with an expenditure of Vl5.34.5aOQO Taka but, later the expenditure went up to more than 38 crore Taka.

During this period constructton work of 75 miles of embankment, renovation and repair of 21 miles embankment. 29 closures. 12 drainage regulators. 135 miles drainage channels. 372 inlet structures, ftve bridges 11 culverts and five navigation locks have been completed with Taka nine crore financial assistance from the IDA and Dutch government. NEDICO. an organisation of Netherlands provided the technical assistance for drawing and design of the total project But still 20 inlet structures, two culverts, one regulator and one bridge have to be completed. Due to shortage of funds, negligence and incapability of the concerned authorities construction work is still pending People of the area are eagerly awaiting completion of the project work which may turn their dreams into reality.