Berlin confce to protect Sundarbans

A EUROPEAN conference on Sundarbans started in German capital Berlin yesterday to discuss how to protect the world’s greatest mangrove forest from destruction at a time when our government is determined to continue with the construction of the giant Rampal Coal-fired Plant. It is being built as a joint venture with India National Thermal Power Corporation. No suggestion from local and international environment groups and human rights organization and even from UN bodies to relocate the power plant at a safe distance from the forest zone is working, as the government remained defiant to build the 1300 MW power plant. But people who are really concerned about protecting the forest listed by UNESCO as a world heritage can’t sit idle either with their legs crossed.

The European conference arranged by European Action Group and Bangladesh’s National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports shows the latest international protest to the power plant within 14km of the forest. Hundreds of international professionals and representatives organizations are reportedly taking part in the conference to discuss the impact of Rampal Power Plant and alternative sources of energy for Bangladesh.

People believe when India is shutting most of its coal run power plants and stopped planning new ones based on coal they should be equally sensitive to the concern of Bangladesh and refrain from setting up the giant power plant closer to Sundarbans. What is more alarming is that the India-Bangladesh joint venture has a second power plant of equal capacity at the same venue on card once the first one will be completed. Many believe the major decision is in India’s hand and Bangladesh government is just happily collaborating.

The conference will end today with ‘Berlin Declaration’ to be signed by representatives of Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, and Women Engage for a Common Future and such others. It seems to be the most appropriate move to highlight global concern on the sensitive issue and is expected to give fresh call to Bangladesh government to stop the power plant near Sundarbans and instead explore “Green Energy” solutions that make sense. The forest will be severely affected by air and water pollution once the power plant will start functioning. Plants will die from temperature warming and animals die from disturbance to peaceful wildlife.

In this background, the government enactment of a new law recently to severely punish protesters for creating troubles to the project is highly intriguing. The authorities have also started legalizing new industries and giving permission to new ones in the area closer to the forest zones. Villagers are being evicted and local markets dismantled as industries are spreading. Environmentalists fear it will further jeopardize the local communities, although the government claim that industrialization will bring jobs to people is also correct. We are not opposed to industries; the question is to keep the Sundarbans safe from extinction.