Sagar Biswas :The parliamentary standing committee on forest and environment has expressed severe dissatisfaction over Shipping Ministry’s dubious role after capsize of the oil tanker in the Sundarbans.In this backdrop, the JS body has asked the Shipping Ministry to stop plying vessels in the Sundarbans through Shela River, and re-open the Mongla-Ghashiakhali-Morelganj riverine route by completing its dredging immediately.The committee especially laid emphasis on imposing ‘permanent ban’ on plying of the faulty and risky oil tanker type vessels through the Shela River in the future. The above recommendations came up at an emergency meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on forest and environment held at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Thursday presided over by chairman of the committee, also former environment and Forest Minister, Hasan Mahmud.The meeting thoroughly discussed the possible environmental impact and probable ecological disorders following the oil tanker capsize in the Sundarbans on December 9. Committee members including, Minister for Forest and Environment Ministry Anwar Hossain Manju, Deputy Minister Abdullah Al Islam Jacob, MP Tipu Sultan, MP Golam Rabbani, MP Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, MP Merina Rahman and MP Nabi Neaj Khan were present in the meeting. “Yes the JS committee has asked the concerned Ministry [Shipping] to stop plying vessels in the Shela River. Besides, it also has recommended to reopen the Mongla-Ghashiakhali-Morelganj route,” Hasan Mahmud, chairman of the committee, said after the meeting.He said, “The committee also asked the Shipping Ministry to inform whether the faulty oil tanker had got any fitness certificate from the concerned department under the same ministry.” The JS body’s recommendation [to impose ban on plying vessels in the Shela River] came just five days after the Shipping Ministry categorically had ruled out the possibility to close the route denying the request of the forest and environment ministry. On December 14, the inter-ministerial meeting gave suggestion to permanently stop plying vessels [in the Shela River] in wake of oil spillage over 80 square kilometer of the Sundarbands following the oil tanker accident.But, the shipping ministry showed more interest to keep continuing the route allegedly for giving riverine transit facilities to neighbouring India under river route protocol by keeping close connectivity with Mongla Port through Shela River. Not only that, the Shipping Minister M Shahjahan Khan also protested the prevailing temporary ban on the use of Shela River route saying that it was causing problems in the flow of commodities to the Chittagong Port.In the meanwhile, the JS committee also asked the ministry of environment and forest to immediately submit a report about the long-term ecological damage and environmental impact on the Sundarbans by conducting an overall survey in the surrounding areas.In response, the environment and forest ministry informed the JS body that about 60, 800 liters furnace oil so far have been collected from the river water. At present, the level of oxygen in the water is 6.8, which is tolerable for aquatic creatures. Besides, there is no existence of grease oil in the river water, the ministry informed. Apart from it, the JS body asked the Ministry of Health to take necessary steps about the possible health hazards for those who are now collecting oil from the water with bare hands. It also directed the ministry to appoint sufficient manpower so that they could take care about the health of local people. Interestingly, when the parliamentary committee was expressing concern over the fate of the world’s largest mangrove forest, the forest department was chopping down trees after failing to remove furnace oil from trees in the Sundarbans, according to sources.Around 200 workers chopped down trees for the whole day on Wednesday and Thursday being instructed by forest officials to do so. Local sources said that dry oil was also seen in many places on the ground which could not be washed off, prompting the forest authorities to cut down the trees.The forest officials, however, denied instructing workers to fell trees. Chandpai Range station officer of the Sundarbans Forest Division [East] Abul Kalam Azad said no such move was taken.
