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NOAPARA, Dec 1: Shrimps worth more than Tk. 100 million and 'Aman' worth Tk 50 million have totally been damaged in Avoinagar and Monirampur Upazilas of Jessore district due to inundation.
Besides, more than 100 villages under the unions of Paira, Chalsia, Sundali, Prembagh, part of Noapara, Haridaskhati, Kuchulia, Nihalpur and part of Dakuria have also been inundated.
A large number of people have been marooned. Affected people of inundated areas finding no other alternative have been residing at boats or roofs of their kutcha houses.
Farmers of nearly 2500 hectares of lands will also be forced to refrain from cultivating 'Boro' and other winter vegetables this season due to the stagnant water of nearly 17-square kilometre area in Jessore and some parts of Khulna.
While visiting the inundated areas this correspondent has found that a large number of trees have been damaged, domestic animals are dying each day and the village people are being attacked with various water-borne diseases.
Concerned sources said onrush of water from upstream of Satkhira and heavy downpour in the last week of October have created heavy silt on the bed of river Harisri.
Local people said the water became stagnant over the last one month.
They said the inundation may engulf more villages and shrimp fields shortly if speedy steps are not taken for removal of the stagnant water.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Avoinagar Md Ameen told the FE that the potential shrimp sector of this region would incur losses worth more than Tk 100 million due to the stagnant water.
"So far I know, the government undertook a project worth nearly Tk 40 million for the early removal of water," he said.
He also said that the water would likely to remain stagnant for one more month and added that in January the total removal of water would be possible.
Executive Engineer of Water Development Board (WDB) Dipak Kumar Sarkar told the FE that one dredger and two escalators were in operation for removal of silt as 3.0-4.0 inches of silt were developing every day.
He also said officials from the WDB and other government departments are working round the clock for early relief from this problem.
Bishnupad Dutt, local chairman, said manual dredging employing local people would be the best solution against the backdrop of the deteriorating situation.
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