Sundarbans: Keep it alive

THE Sundarbans is the largest mangrove forest in the world and was recognised as a global heritage site by UNESCO in 1997. This mangrove forest preserves our coast and coastal people and offers us her bounteous treasure. It is home to the Royal Bengal Tiger and a large number of animal species, and many different kinds of birds and fishes. It also houses a wide range of flora and fauna. The effects of the cyclones Sidr and Aila would have been much worse were it not for the Sundarbans.The pristine nature of the region is in danger. Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) of India signed a contract to build, under joint venture, a 1,320 MW Rampal Coal Fired Power Plant near the Sunderbans on January 29, 2012. The project is also known as Bangladesh-India Friendship Power project and pledges to be the largest power plant in Bangladesh. It will be installed on 1,834 acres of land, situated 14-km north of the Sunderbans.The power purchase agreement was signed by the PDB without finalising the price at which it will buy electricity from the Rampal plant.The Rampal Power Project was estimated to involve $1.5 billion capital cost , 70% of which was to be arranged through a costly ‘buyer’s credit’ and the balance was planned to be shared equally by the JV partners. Under the 50: 50 joint venture deal a JV Company was floated to install and operate the plant within the framework of BPDB and NTPC. BPDB Chairman and his counterpart at NTPC were very optimistic about delivering power from the plant within 2015.The selected site for the project has generated lot of debates as well. The distance of the plant from the Sundarbans varies from 14 to 19 kilometers. Meantime, experts have opined that there is no other example in the world where any country has allowed construction of a power plant within 15 to 20 kilometers of forests or dwellings of the forest people. Renowned environmentalists have already refuted the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report.It is mentioned in a joint web article by Md. Sariful Islam and Shah Arafat Hossain (Department of Development Studies, Dhaka University), that the environment experts are completely against this type of `red category’ project within such an “Environmentally Critical Area (ECA).” The government itself, by a gazette in 2010, had declared the surrounding 340 hectares, 560 hectares and 170 hecatres — including the river Passur — as “Wildlife Sanctuary,” for protecting rare species of dolphins.Already, the government is being accused of flouting five national and international rules. According to EIA report, the water of Passur will be used for refining purposes and then it will be let back into the river. But that water will be both higher in temperature and mingled with various toxic components, causing severe damage to the flora and fauna dependent on the river. The ecological symbioses of the river will collapse entirelyThe proposed coal-fired plant will pollute the environment not only through emission of huge amount of carbon dioxide and other toxic gases (sulphur, nitrogen etc.) but also through producing ash which will cause acid rain. Smoke produced from the plant is likely to impede the movement of commercial ships at Mongla port. Besides, the lives and livelihoods of people relying on the Sundarbans (fishermen, wood cutters, honey collectors etc.) will be affected.
The Rampal project may cause health hazards too. Diseases like pneumonia may spread because of the emission of such gases. The acid rain will result in top-dying syndrome of tress of the plant and it will pollute water and air. Meantime, experts are raising their eyebrows too at the cost of electricity to be produced by the plant. Their point of objection is that the government can acquire electricity at a cheaper rate from local plants rather than the joint venture with India.
Meanwhile, land development works on the bank of Moidara canal in Rampal Upazila of Bagerhat district has commenced as part of the project implementation. Local and national level environmental activist groups raised voices against the project and a public interest writ petition was filed by an organisation called ‘Save the Sundarbans!’ The High Court also served a notice upon the government to this effect.The people of Bangladesh will safeguard Sundarbans at any cost. But one thing should be kept in mind too. That the 18-party Alliance should not be allowed to “manipulate” this movement to ignite hatred and jingoism under the pretext of “Save Sundarbans” slogan and use common people, environmentalists and left leaning parties for political mileage.Links of some Bangladeshi newspapers on Rampal power plant at Pakistani Defense Ministry web-site cannot help but catch our notice. Moreover, whatever may be the interest of the ruling elite of India, we have no discord with its people. Indian Intellectuals cum activists like Mahashweta Devi, Medha Patekar, Devesh Roy or Vandana Shiva have been raising their voices for sustainable development and people-ecology balance rather than endorsing the mammoth top to down development approaches. Will the part of Sundarbans in West Bengal remain intact if Bangladesh portion is affected? We know how the Farakka barrage has ultimately reduced the navigability of Hoogli port.