COMILLA. Apr 3: Huge quantity of crops is being damaged due bo absence of sales promotion, transport facilities and inadequate number of cold storage every year in the district. Cold storages tn private sector are not available in every upazlla because the storage cost is very high.

Comilia, famous for producing bumper crops where farmers cultivate almost all types of crops like onion, garlic. turmeric, chilli, potato, tomato, ginger find it difficult to store their produce in the absence of cold storage. Thus the growers are compelled to sell their products at nominal prices to a section of unscrupulous businessmen.

These crops are sold in local hats and bazars at a very low prices compared to other towns and cities.

Besides, bumper potato production In the current season which broke ail the previous records and due to shortage of preservation and communication facilities huge quantity of potatoes has rotten. The farmers are being forced to sell their products at throw away prices.

According to the official sources, there are only 17 cold storages in Comilia district within 12 upazilas which arc >ol at all sufficient.

Tax collection

Irregular col lection of taxes hampers development work of

Comilia Municipality.

According to reports, taxes have been assessed at Taka 93.35.000 including huge amount of arrears lying outstanding with the government, semi government and autonomous bodies during current fiscal year 1990-91. Of the amount, only Taka 5.44.000 has been collected upto February this year which is only 16 per cent of the total amount

Irregular collection of tax^s and lack of co-operation with bther agencies municipal committee is not able to pro-Mdc civic amenities. The town with 1.64,000 residents needs minimum civic facilities and due to acute shortage of fund the development work has come to a stand still.

The house owners suppress the actual rents to the munfcl pal assessors. As a result it has become impossible to make proper assessment.