The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Bagerhat

The committee formed by the government to assess losses to the Sundarbans caused by cyclone Sidr, is yet to start functioning due to fund crisis.

Official sources said the committee could not start its operations even after a year as the government not yet approved its budget proposal.

After Sidr hit the country, a 10-member investigation committee with forest conservator of Khulna Range Amalendra Saha as convener was formed on December 12, 2007 to assess the extent of loss. The committee was asked to submit its report by 15 days.

When contacted, Amalendra Saha said after getting the government instruction, a meeting was held at his office on December 19, the same year.

The committee submitted a budget proposal to the government soon after the meeting but did not get any response from the authority concerned, he added.

Sundarbans East Range DFO SM Shahidullah, however, said they had prepared a primary assessment of loss worth about Tk 1,000 crore after the cyclone that pounded on the world's largest mangrove forest.

"Forests on 1.52 lakh hectares were damaged by the cyclone," he said.

Besides, different outposts, camps, office and furniture worth Tk 17 crore were also damaged by the super-cyclone, which killed about 50 deer, one Royal Bengal tiger and different other animals.

Some 908 people were killed by Sidr in the country's coastal areas on November 15, 2007.