Call to scrap power projects near Sundarbans
Staff Reporter
Environmental activists yesterday demanded immdiate cancellation of the planned Rampal and Orion coal-based power plants near the Sundarbans by March 15. The demand was made during the closing ceremony of the four-day long march towards the Sundarbans by activists under the banner of National Committee for Protecting Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Port. The activists also called the government for an open debate on the power plants. They threatened to take out a long march towards Dhaka and conduct sit-in programmes, strikes and blockades in the capital if the government does not cancel the projects within the mentioned time. They also adopted a seven-point Sundarbans Declaration during the closing ceremony. Prof. Anu Muhammad, member secretary of the National Committee, promulgated the declaration.
He said the Sundarbans was not only about trees and animals, but rather an amalgamation of amazing biodiversity and ecosystem that was declared as a world heritage site. The Sundarbans not only generates livelihood for hundreds of thousands of people, but also safeguards the mainland from natural disasters and cyclones like Aila and Sidr, he added.
The seven-point declaration states that because of some profit-driven individuals and corporations, the Sundarbans has been facing danger on a regular basis. Several commercial and industrial activities, including construction of shipyards, silo, and cement factories, have already sprung up around the mangrove forest. At a time when the coastal regions of the country are already under threat because of climate change, implementation of coal-based projects like Rampal would only add to the risk, the declaration says.
