A coal-laden coaster capsized in the Shelah River in the thick of the Sundarban mangrove forests of Bangladesh. The forestry department has filed for compensation in a case claiming five-billion-taka as the coaster has polluted to a large extent the fragile and ecologically important environment. Many people depend on the waterways of the Sundarban for their livelihood, not only sustaining their own lives hand-to-mouth but supplying fish and edible crustaceans and honey besides thatching grasses, wood, and green stuff to neighbouring towns.
If the industrialists will get there way, very soon, this World Heritage site will site – eight miles south – two huge coal burning power plants that are in the planned development stage and these when operational will surely damage air and water quality of a forest dependent on its pristine environment. The mangroves also effectively protect Bangladesh and India’s shorelines from storm surges and flooding, which could worsen over the short or long term as climate change heads in its present direction.
Only two weeks ago, hundreds of activists marched more than 150 miles from the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka to the southwestern Bagerhat District, in a four-day protest. The protesters called on the government to halt plans for the 1,320-megawatt Rampal coal plant and the 565-megawatt Orion coal plant, both planned for that part of Bangladesh. The larger Rampal plant, to take up more than 1,800 acres of land, is scheduled to go online in 2021.
Thus it was on March 21, a Monday morning when the Sharonkhola police officer filed the lawsuit against the owner of the coaster that this smallish incident reminded all interested parties of the grander implications.
Forrester Sultan Mahmud said the accused are coaster owner Monira Kabi; importer of coal Mr Rahman; manager Jamal Hossain Mollah; and coaster master Saiful Islam; also wheels-man Ismail Farazi. The vessel was carrying 35 tons of coal leaving the port of Chittagong on Saturday afternoon to the way to Noapara just below Jessore.
The coaster sank into the waters when it was steaming through the River Shelah. The authorities temporarily closed the river off from other commercial vessels plying the river to avoid further accidents.
Environmentalists are highly aware of the potential of a fossil fuel spill in the Sundarban as in December 2014 an oil tanker spilled 92,000 gallons of oil into the Sundarban’ Shelah River.
Police had filed a general diary (report) with Sharonkhola police station. Operational commander Shah Alam Mia confirmed the event had taken place.
A coal-laden coaster capsized in the Shelah River in the thick of the Sundarbans mangrove forests of Bangladesh. The forestry department has filed for compensation in a case claiming five-billion-taka as the coaster has polluted to a large extent the fragile and ecologically important environment.
Many people depend on the waterways of the Sundarban for their livelihood, not only sustaining their own lives hand-to-mouth but supplying fish and edible crustaceans and honey besides thatching grasses, wood, and green stuff to neighbouring towns.
If the industrialists will get there way, very soon, this World Heritage site will site – eight miles south – two huge coal burning power plants that are in the planned development stage and these when operational will surely damage air and water quality of a forest dependant on its pristine environment. The mangroves also effectively protect Bangladesh and India’s shorelines from storm surges and flooding, which could worsen over the short or long term as climate change heads in its present direction.
Only two weeks ago, hundreds of activists marched more than 150 miles from the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka to the southwestern Bagerhat District, in a four-day protest. The protesters called on the government to halt plans for the 1,320-megawatt Rampal coal plant and the 565-megawatt Orion coal plant, both planned for that part of Bangladesh. The larger Rampal plant, to take up more than 1,800 acres of land, is scheduled to go online in 2021.
Additional reporting by Tony Henderson
