It
could not have been worst than this. One of deadliest environmental
disaster hit Bangladesh last week. This is likely to ring the death knell for
aquatic animals including rare Irrawaddy dolphins, fishes and birds
that feed on them in the unique land-marine eco-system of
Sunderbans- a Unesco world heritage site having the world largest
mangrove forest that covers 26,000 square km in India and Bangladesh
and also the habitat of famous Royal Bengal Tigers.
Stage
was set for this ecological nightmare, when on 9th
December 2014, an oil tanker “ Southern Star Seven” carrying
350000 liters of furnace oil from Khulna to Gopalganj through Shela
river found sailing extremely difficult because of the poor
visibility amid dense fog. The captain decided to drop anchor at a
place called as Mrigmari in the Sundarbans Chandpai range under West
Zone near Mongla port, which is about 100 km from the Kolkata port.
Around
5 AM next morning (10th December 2014), it was hit from
behind by an empty tanker named as MT Southern, because of poor
visibility. The front part of the tanker sank, spilling almost the
entire oil into the river as two of its six containers were badly
damaged. All of the eight-member crew swam ashore except for the
tanker's navigator or master, who went missing. Police recovered
the body of Master Mukhlisur Rahman,50, six days after the mishap.
The Bangladesh Navy salvaged the wrecked tanker and towed it ashore
after two days.
In
2012, Bangladesh had declared this area a dolphin sanctuary, home to
about eight species. Besides, salt water crocodiles inhabit the area.
Because of this reason, ships were banned from using this sea route
and they used Ghoshiakhali canal bypassing the Sunderbans when
sailing from Mongla port. However inadequate dredging led to heavy
silting in the canal, leading to the closure of the route. To
overcome this difficulty, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport
Authority (BIWTA) opened a "temporary" route through the
Shela river in 2011. The move drew continuing protests from
environmentalists and also Bangladesh forest officials. Vessels
between Kolkata and Mongla port, also use this route. The traffic is
quite heavy on this route these days. Initially, about 20 oil tankers
plied each day. In 2013, 150-250 tankers moved through the Sunderbans
route every day. The Bangladesh government has now closed Shela River
route to all vessels after the disaster of 10th December.
In
September 2013, UNESCO had written to the Bangladesh government
seeking suspension of this temporary water route through the
Sunderbans immediately and asked the government to send a compliance
report by February and had also threatened to withdraw its world
heritage site tag and list the Sunderabans as endangered world
heritage site instead.
The
oil quickly spread into the rivers and canals of the Sundarbans. By
12th December 2014, the oil slick had spread over up to 70
km of the Shela river, and in 20 canals connected with the Shela as
well as another major river, Pashur, which is also affected. The
spill now covers a huge area of 34,000 hectares
Bangladeshi
authorities, besides urgently the assessing environmental damage,
have also launched a clean up drive, which appears totally
ineffective. Around 200 hired workers in nearly 100 engine and
country boats have started a campaign to collect the oil from rivers
and channels. The workers are loading the boats with the oil they are
collecting manually using the traditional equipment and depositing
those in tanks in nearby ferry terminals. The oil collection will
continue until further notice. Bangladesh has admitted it doesn't
have the resources and expertise to handle a crisis of this
magnitude. The authorities, according to a report in “Dhaka
Tribune,” have neither the experience nor the capability to handle
such a case, trying to pass the responsibility on to each other
instead of making a move.
India's
Zee news reported on 13th December 2014 that first dead
dolphin was spotted in the Harinatana-Tambulbunia channel of Shela
river. So far no other deaths of major animals including dolphins and
crocodiles have been reported though there are reports in Bangladesh
press that some dead animals have been spotted. The dolphins also
have been reported having a breathing difficulty. They are expected
to take the hit first and will soon start suffocating. The thick
layer of oil on the surface of the river will cut down the dissolved
oxygen. However “ Dhaka Tribune” report also highlights the
deadly scenario that is likely to happen and says:
“As
a coastal mangrove forest, the vegetation in the Sundarbans gets
inundated twice a day by high tides. Now that there is oil, as water
recedes with low tide, the oil will remain on the vegetation and the
forest topsoil. The vegetation is the main food of various kinds of
deer that live in the dense forest surrounding the river. The deer,
in turn, is one of the main foods of the Bengal tigers. So, in the
long run, the population of deer and tigers – the two best known
animals from the Sundarbans – will be affected. The mangrove
ecosystem of Sundarbans is primarily made up of four kinds of
salt-water trees: Sundari, Kewra, Goran, Poshur and Gol. These trees
reproduce from the windfall seeds that fall on the ground. As oil
settles on the forest topsoil, these seeds will die and in the long
run, the regeneration of the Sundarbans will be badly affected. That
in turn will put the deer and different types of primates in trouble
who depend on these trees for living. These windfall seeds are the
staple food of Pungash fish that also inhabit the Sela waters. This
fish again is one of the main foods of crocodiles – a famous
reptile from these forests. If Pungash does not get anything to eat,
they will die, eventually putting the lives of crocodiles at risk as
well.”
According
to one report, the Indian part of Sunderbans may not take a big hit.
That however might not be sufficient reason for India not to offer
any help. A catastrophic event of this nature is likely to affect the
entire Sundarban delta that shores both countries. It could have
multiple disastrous effects on ecosystems of the region. India must
therefore offer all help to Bangladesh in containing and cleaning up
the oil spill, including engaging international firms who specialize
in such operations.
16th
December 2014
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