I remember the days in the late 1970s and early 80s, as a school kid, when going to Khulna by Steamer (what fabulous names like Gazi, Kiwi, Ostrich with luxury at its height and definition) was fun with magnificent riverine view and mouth watering delicacies. One of the most interesting part of this voyage was when the steamer had to cross a patch of Sundarbans on way to Khulna. Our young curious eyes were always eager to spot a tiger, however it remained an illusion always! But we were always able to see spotted deer, goyal (water buffalo), ganges dolphins and in some instances the crocodiles, which were not very uncommon site. Now a days, the steamer journey may still be found romantically very adventurous with its novelties, however the patch of Sundarbans now long gone encroached with industries like cold storage, brick fields and residential areas. Saving the Sundarbans
Why cant we expect to use the Rampal Power project to save the habitat of Royal Bengal Tigers?
Masihul Huq Chowdhury
I remember the days in the late 1970s and early 80s, as a school kid, when going to Khulna by Steamer (what fabulous names like Gazi, Kiwi, Ostrich with luxury at its height and definition) was fun with magnificent riverine view and mouth watering delicacies. One of the most interesting part of this voyage was when the steamer had to cross a patch of Sundarbans on way to Khulna. Our young curious eyes were always eager to spot a tiger, however it remained an illusion always! But we were always able to see spotted deer, goyal (water buffalo), ganges dolphins and in some instances the crocodiles, which were not very uncommon site. Now a days, the steamer journey may still be found romantically very adventurous with its novelties, however the patch of Sundarbans now long gone encroached with industries like cold storage, brick fields and residential areas.
The Sundarbans is the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest comprising southern Bangladesh and a part in the Indian state of West Bengal. The Sundarbanss covers approximately 10,000 square kilometres (3,900 sq mi) most of which is in Bangladesh with the remainder in Indian side. The Sundarbanss is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Bangladesh being the largest delta in the world at the confluence of mighty Ganges has always given natural protection by the great expanse of the Sundarbans. In 1911, it was described as a tract of waste country which had never been surveyed nor had the census been extended to it. It then stretched for about 266 kilometres (165 mi) from the mouth of the Hugli to the mouth of the Meghna river and was bordered inland by the three settled districts of the 24 Parganas, Khulna and Bakerganj. The total area (including water) was estimated at 16,900 square kilometres (6,526 sq mi). It was a water-logged jungle, in which tigers and other wild beasts abounded. Attempts at reclamation had not been very successful. The Sundarbanss was everywhere intersected by river channels and creeks, some of which afforded water communication throughout the Bengal region both for steamers and for native ships. The Sundarbanss is intersected by a complex network of tidal waterways, mudflats and small islands of salt-tolerant mangrove forests. The interconnected network of waterways makes almost every corner of the forest accessible by boat. The area is known for the (Panthera tigris tigris), as well as numerous fauna including species of birds, ganges crocodile, water buffalo (Gayal) spotted deer and snakes. The fertile soils of the delta have been subject to intensive human use for centuries, and the ecoregion has been mostly converted to intensive agriculture, with few enclaves of forest remaining. The remaining forests, taken together with the Sundarbanss mangroves, are important habitat for the endangered tiger. Additionally, the Sundarbanss serves a crucial function as a protective barrier for the millions of inhabitants in and around Khulna and Mongla against the floods that result from the cyclones. The Sundarbanss has also been enlisted among the finalists in the New 7 Wonders of The World.
In many of the Bangladeshs mangrove wetlands, freshwater reaching the mangroves was considerably reduced from the 1970s because of diversion of freshwater in the upstream area by because of the Farakka Barrage. Also, the Bengal Basin is slowly tilting towards the east because of neo-tectonic movement, forcing greater freshwater input to the Bangladesh Sundarbanss. As a result, the salinity of the Bangladesh Sundarbanss is much lower than that of the Indian side. A 2007 report conducted by UNESCO, Case Studies on Climate Change and World Heritage has stated that an anthropogenic 45-centimetre (18 in) rise in sea level (likely by the end of the 21st century, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), combined with other forms of anthropogenic stress on the Sundarbanss, could lead to the destruction of 75 percent of the Sundarbanss mangroves. Already, Lohachara, South Talpatti have disappeared under the sea, and Ghoramara island is half submerged.
There may be debates on the setting up of Rampal Power Plant and its impact on the future of Sundarbans. There are activists who are trying to create social movement against the setting up of this power plant. There may be truth in their arguments but truly speaking whether the stoppage of setting up of this plant be able to stop the deforestation of the largest mangrove forest? The slogan like do you want to keep the habitat of Tigers at the cost of Coal powered electricity at Rampal? Why not both? Why cant we expect to use the Rampal Power project to save the habitat of Royal Bengal Tigers? It needs to be mentioned here that the attempt for reproduction of deer and other flora in various power plant projects undertaken by the Government have seen major successes. In fact the restrictions have resulted to stoppage of illegal poaching and logging thus resulting to these major successes of increased reproduction of deers and the greeneries surrounding the power plants.
The relevant authorities may undertake a campaign to show case these successes to media, activists and common mass across. On the other hand, Historical evidence suggests that the largest mangrove forest is shrinking over the years in the size. Now, can we build up a positive campaign surrounding Rampal project? That let this power plant be the source of reforestation ensuring that a portion of the revenue generated from this power plant be used towards protecting the natural habitat and that there be no encroachment of this largest mangrove? That we can reinforce protection through stringent actions on illegal poaching and logging. The success of the other power plants in ensuring reproduction of deer can be copied in Sundarbans area which will help ensure creation and maintenance of sanctuaries for Royal Bengal Tigers.
The indigenous people of Sundarbans can prosper in the hunt for honey with the greenery back on the basis of successful reforestation. The tourism to these sanctuary area need to be well managed under stricter supervision and the use of Sundarbans as a channel for smuggling of illegal log and poach can really bring in the environmental harmony back.That the natural wall around the coastal Bangladesh continue to protect us from natural calamities and keep our rivers fresh from any pollution and also help stop salinity of fresh water. We can even peruse our neighbour for our fair share of the water so that it may help fight off the impact of salinity in the Sundarbans rivers. There are successful reforestation stories around the globe of similar nature. Its time that why dont we start the campaign of save Sundarbans through Rampal Power Project? The entire episode on Rampal Power Project may be a wishful thinking but why dont we give this wishful thinking a try !!!
The writer, a banker by profession, has worked both in local andoverseas market with various foreign and local banks in different positions
