Malda Training Diary - Administrative Training Institute

To:
The District Magistrate,
Malda.
Page 144 of 144
From:
Pradip Bhattacharya,
Asstt. Magistrate.
S.N.Roy Chowdhury,
Dy. Magistrate.
10 th February,1972
Subject: Report on Possibilities of Sending Relief Materials to the Porsha P.S. Area
via Agra-Harishchandrapur.
Sir,
Today, after meeting the B.D.O. Habibpur who had got back this morning from
Porsha, we proceeded to Nitpur (Porsha P.S.) where we talked with:-
Sri. Abul Hasnat Chowdhury, Chairman of the local Awami League unit;
Sri Ikram-ul Haque, Secretary of the local A.L.unit
Sri Akhtur-ul Islam, Local Family Planning Officer
And many other local people.
Sri Basir Ahmed Chowdhury was away in Rajsahi & so could not be met.
As a result of our tour and these discussions, the following conclusions can be reached:-
1. Trucks can proceed along the Bulbulchandi-Kenpur-Agra-Harishchandrapur
route. A little T.R. work here, in the Agra-Harishchandrapur portion of the road, will
certainly facilitate the operation and cut-down time taken for the trips.
2. The ferry across the Punarbhava cannot possibly take across any diesel truck, not
even the small ISUZU trucks, unless bigger boats are found. In the alternative, a small
petrol truck can be ferried across. The materials can be unloaded on the western side of
the river, ferried across it on boats, and be carried by this truck to the required spots
inside Porsha. Two such trucks would be ideal, if not three, so that the people can receive
the materials as fast as possible.
3. Some 30,000 evacuees, according to them, have returned to Porsha, and nearly an
equal amount are also homeless (these had fled to other areas of Bangla Desh). The badly
needed materials are: bamboo poles and mats, and some sort of roofing since no tin sheets
or hay or tarpaulin are to be found there. 80% of the residences it was claimed have been
razed to the ground. People are at present either living in schools, or packing into
whatever houses are still standing.
4. Diesel is acutely required for powering the 106 irrigation pumps that have been
set-up. If this is not supplied immediately, the possibility of a decent “boro” crop will
disappear. This area produces rice by and large, and this year only about 50% of the land
has produced a good crop, with the result that price of rice has shot up from Rs. 15 or 16
to Rs 26 or 28 a md. To avoid food scarcity, therefore, immediate supply of diesel is
essential.
I was further told that if the fuel is brought via Agra-Harishchandrapur, the cost comes to
about Rs 100 (Rupees one hundred) less than if it is routed through Rajsahi. This factor
may also be kept in mind when deciding the supply-route.
5. Food-grains are the other major problem in this area. Earnest requests were made to
arrange for supplies of food-grains direct through the Agra-Harishchandrapur route.
Sri. H.Chowdhury & Sri I. Haque will be coming to meet you on 13 th evening or 14 th
morning before 11 a.m.
Orders may kindly be passed as deemed necessary.