Sinking of cargo vessels

Experts see disasterous ecological impact on Sundarbans

Frequent sinking of cargo vessels carrying coal and fertilisers in different rivers flowing inside the Sundarbans will have a disastrous ecological impact on the mangrove forest and its surrounding areas, experts have said. According to the Department of Shipping (DoS), at least seven cargo vessels with coal and fertiliser have capsized in Mongla port’s Harbaria area of the Pashur river between 2015 and 2017. The impact on the Sundarbans cannot be diagnosed immediately. It will only be realised in the long term, the experts said.

The experts are worried that movement of coal-laden cargo vessels will increase as some coal-based power plants, including the 1,320-MW one at Rampal, are under construction in the Sundarbans area. They also apprehend that the number of accidents in this area is likely to increase with the movement of coal-laden vessels on a larger scale to supply coal to these power plants.

The environment ministry has identified 190 industries and factories within 10 kilometres of the Sundarbans, which was declared an ecologically critical area in 1999. Among these, 24 industries and factories are under the red category.

MV Bilash capsized at Harbaria on the Pashur channel with 775 tonnes of coal on April 14.

In 2015, MV Zabal-e-Noor capsized with 500 tonnes of fertilisers on May 4, MV Milon Sumon with 570 tonnes of coal on May 1 and MV New Parvin sank with TSP fertliser on October 8 in the Harbaria area. MV Ziaras, laden with 600 tonnes of coal, sank there on October 27, 2016. Besides, MV Sheba, laden with 800 tonnes of slag, capsized on June 4, while MV New Masum, with 6,500 sacks of rice, sank on December 1 in the Pashur Channel in Harbaria in 2017.

Tanker OT Southern Star 7, carrying 357,668 litres of furnace oil, sank in the Shela river in the Mrigmari area of the Sundarbans after being hit by another oil tanker, MT Total, on December 9, 2014.

At least 10,000-12,000 tonnes of imported coal are to be supplied to the Rampal power plant daily through the Pashur Channel, the experts said.

It would take two weeks to

salvage the sunken vessel,

Mongla port harbour master, Commander Wali Ullah, told this correspondent.

“We have given 15 days to the owner of MV Bilash to salvage the vessel. The owner has promised to remove the vessel within seven days,” he said.

According to the harbour master, heavy equipment will be needed to salvage the vessel.

“We are frustrated about the movement of vessels inside the Sundarbans. The government should not allow such vessels inside the Sundarbans as they destroy the ecological system,” Abu Naser Khan, chairman of Poribesh Bachao Andalan, told The Independent.

When his attention was drawn to the Rampal power plant, Khan said: “It will be disastrous for the Sundarbans, the world’s biggest mangrove forest. We want power, but not by destroying the environment. The department concerned must follow environment laws before constructing such plants.”

The impact on the water as well as the forest will not be visible to the naked eye, Amir Hossain Chowdhury, forest conservator of the Department of Forest in the Khulna region, told this correspondent.

“Frequent sinking of vessels in the Pashur Channel will create a long-term impact on the Sundarbans. The risk of accidents will increase if the vessels move on a larger scale in these areas,” Chowdhury said in reply to a query.

Additional director general of the Department of Environment, Kazi Sarwar Imtiaz Hashmi, said there will be long-term impact on the environment following sinking of coal- and fertiliser-laden vessels.

The member secretary of National Committee for Protection of Oil-Gas and Mineral Resources, Electricity Sector and Ports, Prof. Anu Mohammad, also criticised the government’s move to construct the Rampal power plant near the Sundrbans.

“A section of officials is helping the government to implement its environment-destructive projects by showing red-category factories as green category. They are trying to destroy the Sundarbans by installing a coal-based power plant, ignoring people’s protest,” he said.

The experts also urged the government to refrain from implementing projects that would destroy the environment.

 

Sinking of cargo vessels

Experts see disasterous ecological impact on Sundarbans

Frequent sinking of cargo vessels carrying coal and fertilisers in different rivers flowing inside the Sundarbans will have a disastrous ecological impact on the mangrove forest and its surrounding areas, experts have said. According to the Department of Shipping (DoS), at least seven cargo vessels with coal and fertiliser have capsized in Mongla ports Harbaria area of the Pashur river between 2015 and 2017. The impact on the Sundarbans cannot be diagnosed immediately. It will only be realised in the long term, the experts said. The experts are worried that movement of coal-laden cargo vessels will increase as some coal-based power plants, including the 1,320-MW one at Rampal, are under construction in the Sundarbans area. They also apprehend that the number of accidents in this area is likely to increase with the movement of coal-laden vessels on a larger scale to supply coal to these power plants. The environment ministry has identified 190 industries and factories within 10 kilometres of the Sundarbans, which was declared an ecologically critical area in 1999. Among these, 24 industries and factories are under the red category. MV Bilash capsized at Harbaria on the Pashur channel with 775 tonnes of coal on April 14. In 2015, MV Zabal-e-Noor capsized with 500 tonnes of fertilisers on May 4, MV Milon Sumon with 570 tonnes of coal on May 1 and MV New Parvin sank with TSP fertliser on October 8 in the Harbaria area. MV Ziaras, laden with 600 tonnes of coal, sank there on October 27, 2016. Besides, MV Sheba, laden with 800 tonnes of slag, capsized on June 4, while MV New Masum, with 6,500 sacks of rice, sank on December 1 in the Pashur Channel in Harbaria in 2017. Tanker OT Southern Star 7, carrying 357,668 litres of furnace oil, sank in the Shela river in the Mrigmari area of the Sundarbans after being hit by another oil tanker, MT Total, on December 9, 2014. At least 10,000-12,000 tonnes of imported coal are to be supplied to the Rampal power plant daily through the Pashur Channel, the experts said. It would take two weeks to salvage the sunken vessel, Mongla port harbour master, Commander Wali Ullah, told this correspondent. We have given 15 days to the owner of MV Bilash to salvage the vessel. The owner has promised to remove the vessel within seven days, he said. According to the harbour master, heavy equipment will be needed to salvage the vessel. We are frustrated about the movement of vessels inside the Sundarbans. The government should not allow such vessels inside the Sundarbans as they destroy the ecological system, Abu Naser Khan, chairman of Poribesh Bachao Andalan, told The Independent. When his attention was drawn to the Rampal power plant, Khan said: It will be disastrous for the Sundarbans, the worlds biggest mangrove forest. We want power, but not by destroying the environment. The department concerned must follow environment laws before constructing such plants. The impact on the water as well as the forest will not be visible to the naked eye, Amir Hossain Chowdhury, forest conservator of the Department of Forest in the Khulna region, told this correspondent. Frequent sinking of vessels in the Pashur Channel will create a long-term impact on the Sundarbans. The risk of accidents will increase if the vessels move on a larger scale in these areas, Chowdhury said in reply to a query. Additional director general of the Department of Environment, Kazi Sarwar Imtiaz Hashmi, said there will be long-term impact on the environment following sinking of coal- and fertiliser-laden vessels. The member secretary of National Committee for Protection of Oil-Gas and Mineral Resources, Electricity Sector and Ports, Prof. Anu Mohammad, also criticised the governments move to construct the Rampal power plant near the Sundrbans. A section of officials is helping the government to implement its environment-destructive projects by showing red-category factories as green category. They are trying to destroy the Sundarbans by installing a coal-based power plant, ignoring peoples protest, he said. The experts also urged the government to refrain from implementing projects that would destroy the environment.