MAGURA. May 4: Thousands of families of potters are facing various problems in carrying on their age-old traditional pottery business in the district.

According to the reports, the families potters who live at the villages of Nohata. Amtoil. Galpara. Sripur, Sachllapur. Binodpur Muhanimadpur. Satrujitpur under lour thanas of Magura district are iacing extinction due to scarcity of fuel, and raw materials as well as fund constraints.

Kartlk Chandra -Paul of Sripur told this correspondent that non-availability of Atalo Matt (sticky clay) as raw material. fuel and fund has hampered the production of potters. They need special type of clay which called Atalo Malt They used to get it from various sources free of cost. Now. they have to collect It from distance places.

Potters are also suffering from scarcity of fuel. They need huge fuel for burning 'Paja' (arrangement of soft earthenwares waiting for drying haider). They usually use dried bamboo clusters and dried straw of the paddy plant. It is not easy to collect bamboo clusters as the bamboo clusters are used for burning bricks in the brickfield.

BK Paul of Nohata said that they make attractive earthenwares including Jars, bowls and toys. The products were also sent to other districts by horse, carts and boats. The earthenwares and toys were the main attractions of village fairs.' He told that he and his some relatives are stiff in this profession and make the idols during the religious festivals of Hindus. He also said that they are continuing this trade after extreme hardship.

Some traders in different markets of the district said that aluminium, melamine and other plastic products have

now been replacing earthenwares.

RK Paul under Sripur thana said that his father and grandfather used to engage in pot tery business, but he has to switch to other profession due to various problems.

The professionals do not get any government patronisa-tion and there is no provision for bank loans in this sector.

The potters in the district have appealed to the government to extend bank loan facilities in this sector.