Whenever we appeal to stop the destructive Rampal project and the ORION coal-based power plant to safeguard our great Sundarbans, whenever we ask to cancel the Fulbari open pit project which damages a vast agricultural land and a large civilisation, whenever we protest against real estate developments which are damaging our river-ways by encroachment or by building dams -- the government officials or so-called pro-company specialists claim, in unison, that for the sake of development, we will need to inflict some harm to our country.
The oil spills in the Sundarbans were only a tiny illustration of such a “small harm.” When and how will those who are determined to cause much “greater harm” for “development” ever realise?
On December 9, 2014, 350 thousand litres of oil were spilled on a shallow river of the Sundarbans when an oil tanker capsized. Oil spread around Joymoni, Nondonala, Adarmanik, and Migogami regions. The vehicle was carrying furnace oil for a fuel-based power plant.
Due to high and low tides, the oil spread to a 60km area. A rescue ship was sent on December 11, and the tanker has been pulled out of the river. But it is evident that there are no strategies, no preparedness to respond to this level of catastrophe. The authorities seemed at a loss. There had been no effort to remove the spillages causing irreparable damage.
Earlier on September 12 and 30 that year, two other vessels carrying raw materials for cement capsized, damaging the waterway. What happened to any investigation on those incidents? We haven’t seen any government reports on them. Rather, authorities in charge were busy suppressing reports on such incidents. That is why the government has not taken steps after those incidents.
How do oil containers get permits to pass through the Sundarbans? They get them for the sake of “development.”
The original river route for goods to be shipped from the Mongla Port is through Mongla-Gashiali channel via Bolleshor river, far away from the Sundarbans. That route is now closed, due to the enthusiasm of short-sighted developers and their “development programs.” One such program, from the Water Development Board, builds dams and polders indiscriminately.
These dams obstruct river-ways and create lands by filling up rivers with a huge amount of soil. These are built in the name of “development” with foreign loans, public money, recommendations from specialist consultants, and strong support from local real estate developers.
No one considers the consequences. There is unauthorised shrimp farming that closed many canals. No attention is given to consequences, only considerations made for individual gains and income in foreign currency.
The riverway has been closed for almost 12 years. In the beginning, goods ships operated illegally through the Sundarbans. In 2011, BIWTA issued formal approval. While initially 20 to 25 vessels had run daily, now over 150 are operating, which means even without any accidents, these carriers are polluting the eco-system, and injuring wildlife.
The mentioned accident has not only caused great havoc to animals and rare creatures living in the water, it has also seriously impacted the livelihood of over 100,000 people. We will hear, for years, the long term effect on the Sundarbans.
The national committee to preserve oil-gas-minerals and electricity-ports in the last few years has been informing us of the significance of the Sundarbans. It is the largest mangrove forest in the world, a great habitat for a vastly diverse fauna and a solid shield against natural disasters.
We pleaded, protested, screamed, demonstrated, conducted long marches, and organised civic meetings. Scientists have asked for “special sensitivity” to maintain sustainability of an incredibly bio-diverse eco-system. The UNESCO has already expressed its concerns over a range of profit-seeking projects including the Rampal project in the Sundarbans.
We have asked the government to cease all harmful projects to protect the Sundarbans. Instead of taking any steps to protect the forest, the government remained insensitive to the risks and permitted big vessels to operate in the waterways near and through the Sundarbans. The government is building a number of coal-based power plants. Under different guises, numerous business organisations are being allowed to grab lands. The World Bank and USAID are funding these “development projects,” which would legitimise the grab, and would camouflage our doomed future with artificial glitter.
The prime minister has said that the government will do everything to protect the Sundarbans in an international conference after the oil-spill accident. On the other hand, the detrimental Rampal power plant has been inaugurated. The Indian NTPC, breaking its own country’s law, is in the driver’s seat here. Furthermore, a local company, Orion, has been permitted to build another coal-based power plant.
Various government departments are busy underwriting activities to destroy the Sundarbans. Defying all logic and requests, the government is continuing the development of the coal-based power plant. Meanwhile, ignorant local and international consultants continue to state: “The Sundarbans won’t be harmed, we will use advanced technology. Coal-filled ships will be fully covered and the chimneys will be very tall. Natural disasters will wash away the pollution.”
The accident, however, clearly demonstrates how exposed, endangered, and defenseless this World Heritage site is, and how hazardous and troubling it is to let oil tankers travel through an immensely vital site of Bangladesh.
An investigation committee is formed; not much is hoped. Still, we all have to demand that the government takes all necessary actions to counter this damage.
At the same time, there has to be concerted national protests and efforts to immediately stop operations of coal-based power plants, including activities of NTPC and Orion. We have to strengthen the appeal to cease the festival of land grabs in the Sundarbans under the government’s jurisdiction.
In 2013, the Dhaka-Sundarbans long march ended in Digiraj. These issues were raised there for immediate action. It was also demanded that a set of principles are developed, not only for protection, but also for the regeneration of the Sundarbans.
We have to fight the aggression of destroying the Sundarbans in the name of development.
Our existence will be threatened if the Sundarbans becomes extinct. To borrow a quote from the Latin American indigenous people: “As we pollute our water, air, land, and forests in quest for profits, soon we will have nothing other than the money left. Only then, we may realise that we can’t live on money alone.”
To live, we need clean water, air, and food, and for our existence, we need forests and bio-diversity. Humankind cannot survive by launching so many life-ending development projects.
This article was first published on AlalODulal.org and was translated by Irfan Chowdhury.
