What is surprising is the lack of seriousness on the part of the relevant authorities who should be concerned to tackle this emergency situation. Apparently it seems that a game of shifting responsibilities has started

Oil spill again threatening the environment

The furnace oil that spilled from three wagons of a freight train, which plunged into a canal at Boalkhali upazila in Chittagong following the collapse of a railway bridge in Kitabchar area, spread over a stretch of more than 15 km, posing a serious threat to environment, biodiversity and aquatic life of the area. A thick layer of oil is floating on the canal water. It is fast spreading towards the Karnaphuli river. The accident took place on
Friday, when a freight train carrying furnace oil from Chittagong derailed at Boalkhali. Two of its wagons plunged into the canal. A third was partially submerged while a fourth one had tilted sideways. A wagon usually contains 25,000 litres of oil, but the exact amount of spill has not yet been determined. The spilled oil is spreading into farmland and water bodies. At Sakhpara area, where the canal merges with the Karnaphuli river, layers of oil are flowing into the river.
   What is surprising is the lack of seriousness on the part of the relevant authorities who should be concerned to tackle this emergency situation. Apparently it seems that a game of shifting responsibilities has started. The authority of the power plant where the furnace oil was being taken to, the Railway Department and the Department of Environment, none wants to take responsibility for the disaster. But someone has to take responsibility. Much time has rolled by but no step has been taken to remove the spilled oil. Over the years a culture of shirking responsibility has taken root in this country. This must be put to an end.   
  We have a Disaster Management Ministry. Can’t it come forward in times of such a disaster? Last year an oil tanker carrying furnace oil sank in the Shela River of the Sundarban. In that incident oil spilled over 60 kilometer area. Oil was also floating in the tributaries and the canals near the Shela River. With the high tide oil entered into the forest, affecting plants and creepers, roots of valuable trees. Environment and biodiversity of the mangrove forest was threatened terribly with the impact of the oil spill at that time.   It is worrying to note that the authorities are pitiably unprepared and ill-equipped to handle such emergency cases. Quick  intervention is the need of the hour. Besides, investigation should be carried out to find out the cause of the latest incident of oil spill. There is no room for dilly-dallying after such an incident occurs. The relevant authority must assure that this kind of incident will not be allowed to occur again.  

 

What is surprising is the lack of seriousness on the part of the relevant authorities who should be concerned to tackle this emergency situation. Apparently it seems that a game of shifting responsibilities has started

Oil spill again threatening the environment

The furnace oil that spilled from three wagons of a freight train, which plunged into a canal at Boalkhali upazila in Chittagong following the collapse of a railway bridge in Kitabchar area, spread over a stretch of more than 15 km, posing a serious threat to environment, biodiversity and aquatic life of the area. A thick layer of oil is floating on the canal water. It is fast spreading towards the Karnaphuli river. The accident took place on Friday, when a freight train carrying furnace oil from Chittagong derailed at Boalkhali. Two of its wagons plunged into the canal. A third was partially submerged while a fourth one had tilted sideways. A wagon usually contains 25,000 litres of oil, but the exact amount of spill has not yet been determined. The spilled oil is spreading into farmland and water bodies. At Sakhpara area, where the canal merges with the Karnaphuli river, layers of oil are flowing into the river. What is surprising is the lack of seriousness on the part of the relevant authorities who should be concerned to tackle this emergency situation. Apparently it seems that a game of shifting responsibilities has started. The authority of the power plant where the furnace oil was being taken to, the Railway Department and the Department of Environment, none wants to take responsibility for the disaster. But someone has to take responsibility. Much time has rolled by but no step has been taken to remove the spilled oil. Over the years a culture of shirking responsibility has taken root in this country. This must be put to an end. We have a Disaster Management Ministry. Cant it come forward in times of such a disaster? Last year an oil tanker carrying furnace oil sank in the Shela River of the Sundarban. In that incident oil spilled over 60 kilometer area. Oil was also floating in the tributaries and the canals near the Shela River. With the high tide oil entered into the forest, affecting plants and creepers, roots of valuable trees. Environment and biodiversity of the mangrove forest was threatened terribly with the impact of the oil spill at that time. It is worrying to note that the authorities are pitiably unprepared and ill-equipped to handle such emergency cases. Quick intervention is the need of the hour. Besides, investigation should be carried out to find out the cause of the latest incident of oil spill. There is no room for dilly-dallying after such an incident occurs. The relevant authority must assure that this kind of incident will not be allowed to occur again.