SATKHIRA, Apr 3 : About 60 villages under Shyannagar and KaligonJ thanas of the district have been inundated due to on rush of water following damage of WAPDA embankment near the river Kholpetna on March 24 last.

A total of 100,000 people bf these areas have been affected by the on rush of water. The water started entering the areas when the embankment was washed away due to on rush of water from Kholpetna river.

According to latest information. about 10.000 kutcha houses, been damaged. About 12.000 acres of standing boro crops on 10.000 acres of land were damaged. More than i00 shrimp ghers were also washed away causing a loss of Taka over 10 crore.

Golpasa worth Taka one crore have also been washed away. Cattle heads and poultry birds are not getting food. Acute crisis of pure drinking water is persisting in the affected areas as most of the tubewells are now under water.

The homeless people have taken shelter on different embankments and the verandhas of schools of these areas. They are passing hard days due to lack of relief and shelter.

The correspondent visited

the affected areas and found that all the kutcha houses of these areas have been affected One Rokeya Begum. 35 of Kashimarl union took shelter in a high school. She told the harrowing tales of misery that all their belongings have been completedly damaged by on rush of water. Monsur Ahmed MP paid a visit to the affected areas and he was visibly moved by the untold sufferings of the people who are living under open sky. He expressed his grave concern over the situation.

When contacted, the Deputy Commissioner. Satkhlra said that he had already ordered the WAPDA authority to take immediate measures to save lives of the suffering people and reconstruct the damaged embankment as early as possible.

Adequate relief, house building materials and pure drinking water are the crying need of the hour in the affected areas.

Educational

facilities demanded

Another reports says: In the education sector. Satkhlra district is lagging far behind than other areas of the country. Facilities for higher educa-

tton are almost nil here.

The standard of education Imparted through the existing undeveloped and substandard colleges of the district is very poor and as such the limited turn out of these colleges can hardly compete with those of other regions.

The condition* of other newly established institutions in the district Is deplorable. Proper academic environment is lacking in all the institutions due to the dearth of qualified and trained teachers, absence of libraries with valuable books, scientific apparatus with adequate research materials, extra-curricular activities and recreational facilities.

Number of schools inadequate

The number of primary schools in the district Is inadequate to meet the needs "bf ttje education. The rate of illiteracy in the district is much higher than those of other regions of the country.

The problem is simply a staggering one. The alarming extent of illiteracy coupled with’ extreme poverty Is eating up the vitals of the people.

Nationalisation of institutions needed

Thana-level primary schools

should be Included in the pilot project and other primary schools in the villages be included in the development programmes’-on priority basis, it is widely felt.

Because of the riverine nature and communication difficulties In the district, the growth of more primary schools at village levels urrtier government assistance 1? essential.

Many primary schools of this district are accommodated in delapidated kutcha houses without fencing and even without sitting arrangements and other minimum facilities.

A good number of primary schools have either been blown away or badly damaged by flood, cyclone and storm.

The number of primary girls schools is also hopelessly poor and in the interest of spreading female education, girls primary schools need to be established in each union and other important places of the district, it is expected.

A good number of primary schools set up by local initia-Uves are about to be closed-down due to the delay in receiving help from the government.