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Tk 122cr more for relief

By Staff Correspondent
Taka 122 crore more has been allocated to various ministries and agencies to take up relief and rehabilitation activities in the cyclone affected areas.
Briefing newsmen on Monday evening. Information Secretary Kazi Manzur i-Mowla said this was in addition to Taka 190 crore allocated earlier for the purpose.
Mowla said out of the fresh allocations, Taka 1 10 crore had, been earmarked for the repair and reconstruction of damaged houses. Of this amount, Taka 50 crore has been sanctioned for immediate release, he said.
The Information Secretary said money had been sanctioned for repair and reconstruction of hospitals and medical centres (Taka one crore), food godowns (Taka one crore), police stations and barrack (Taka 3 crore), roads
and high ways in Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Sylhet (Taka 4 crorc).
Mowia said the government has decided to waive agricultural loan upto Taka 6000 of farmers who are members of BRDB society in the cyclone, tornado and flood affected areas. He said 500 power tillers would be lifted from Machine Tools Factory to be given to the farmers of the cyclone affected areas.
Mowia said an amount of Taka 40 crore would be needed for the of salvation Chittagong Port where 146 ships and vessels of various sizes capsized during the cyclone. He said the government which sought foreign assistance for the salvage operation,, had, whoever, started the task of its own. He said since reopening of he port, it handled 82 ships — 45 arrived and 37 sailed out.
Meanwhile, emergency work of the repair of embankment and closing of breaches by Water Development Board has started, Mowla informed. He said World Food Programme had sanctioned 30,000 metric tons of wheat, 10.000 spades and 40.000 baskets for use in the earth work. He said 60,000 man days of labour would be needed for 11,000 cubic meters of earth work. Presently, the work Is going on in 30 locations and work in other locations will start soon. 423 kilometers of embankment were fully damaged and another 800 kilometers of embankment were damaged partially, he added.
' The Information Secretary said so far ,41 countries and agencies had pledged 346.902 million US dollars for relief and rehabilitation activities. I Ie-said in Japan where cyclone situation got big coverage, a special account — Prime Minister Relief Fund — had been opened with Dai Ichi Kanyo
Bank. He said so far 75 million Yen (about 539,568 US Dollar) had been deposited with that account.
Detailing of relief activities, the Information Secretary said a total of 98 medical teams including 66 Army medical teams were working in the cyclone affected areas. I le said so far 50,45,000 ORS. 1,13,000 IV fluid bags and about 32 lakh water purifying tablets were supplied to the affected areas. He said so far 73,000 tube-wells were repaired and put to service and another. 8,000 new tubewclls sunk.
About diarrhoea, Mowla said since March 2,23,853 persons were attacked with the disease and 1587 died. People attacked by diarrhoea In the cyclone hit areas numbers 1.52,650 and the total death Is 696, he said. In the last 24 hours. 7.745 people in cyclone hit areas were attacked with diarrhoea and 32 died.
Speaking about the storm which hit Barlsal on Saturday, the Information Secretary said 16 persons were killed and about 50 per cent kutcha houses where damaged. He
said relief activities In 4 upazi las affected by storm had plready began.
Mowla said flood situation in Sylhet had improved slightly and death toll In the district in flood rose to 39. He said flood had damaged 350km of local dykes and damaged large portion of embankment df Water Development Board. He said more than 1600km of road and 130 bridge were affected by flood.
The Information Secretary said the government which decided to further gear up relief activities, had emphasised on reducing gratuitous relief and giving more stress on test relief.
Meanwhile different countries and international agencies have pledged nearly 347 million US dollar so far for relief and rehabilitation work In cyclone affected areas of Bangladesh.
Information Secretary Kazi Manzur-i-Mowla said that some 41 countries and agencies have committed the relief assistance.
Of the amount pledged so far, 311.740 million US dollar
would be channelised through the Bangladesh government, 8.918 million dollars through the Red Crescent Society and the rest through different NGOs In Bangladesh, the Information Secretary added.
Meanwhile examinees of SSC and HSC In thecyclone affected areas will given Taka 200 each for buying books. The government has allocated Taka one crore IO lakh as grant for repairing SSC and HSC examination centres dam aged by the recent cyclone and tidal bore.
Taka one crore has been sanctioned for repairing educational institutions damaged by tornadoes in Sirajganj. Comilia, Gazipur and Gournadi upazilas in Barlsal. the Information Secretary told newsmen.
The Information Secretary said that Taka 190 crore was earlier sanctioned for relief and rehabilitation programmc In the cyclone-hit coastal districts. The government has decided to allocate Taka 122 crore for relief and rehabilitation work In those areas, he added.