Khulna (South) Correspondent :
Bio-diversity of the Sundarbans has been facing a great threat as Green Town LPG Plant is being built within one kilometer of the Sundarbans violating the directives of the High Court division of Supreme Court and also the Environmental Law.
The plant is being built by grabbing river Poshur at Banishanta area under Dakop police station of Khulna district. GLT group of Banani area in Dhaka is building this plant without taking any release letter or any kind of permission of the Environment Directorate, sources said. A Division Bench of Writ Jurisdiction of the Honorable Supreme Court’s High Court Division gave directives by prohibiting to build any industries within 10 kilometers of the Sundarbans as the Chairman of “Save the Sundarbans Founadation” Dr. Sheikh Faridul Islam has filed a Writ Petition in the month of April in 2017. But, LPG factory is being built by blocking road and grabbing river and Char.
It is beyond the knowledge of the Engineer of this establishment Md. Mahmud that industries or factories would not be allowed to build within 10 kilometers of the Sundarbans.
Project In-Charge of the LPG plant project told the journalists that he has recently joined and he does not know anything about the matter and he advised to contact Dhaka Head Office regarding the matter. Subodh kumer Roy, UP Chairman of Banishanta Union Parishad said, We have given objection in respect of building gas factory within one kilometer of the Sundarbans, due to rays of wielding of the gas factory, human being and the bio-diversity are facing threat severely, he added.
Biodiversity in the Sundarbans has been facing a great threat as some influential land pirates have been grabbing lands adjacent to the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world and also the largest
world heritage site, declared by the UNESCO.
The Sundarbans, the largest contiguous patch of Mangrove Forest in the world, constitutes 51 percent of the total reserved Forest estate and is also the richest natural resources of Bangladesh. Around 6 lacs persons are dependent upon the Sundarbans.
Population growth and economic development have brought immense pressure on mangrove wealth and its system for firewood, timber, fishes, honey and thatching materials. About 6 lacs people directly or indirectly depended on the resources of Sundarbans in a network of numerous Sundary and big streams and creeks in the adverse bioclimatic of mangrove forests infested with fierce wild animals-tiger in land and crocodile in water struggling for Survival. The forest department with the aid of EU fund through Seals project is initiative for diverting the minds of such Sundarbans independent people to the alternative way. Three NGOS named world vision, concern worldwide and Relief international EU funded NGO are working in the Sundarbans for developing alternative livelihoods for Sundarbans Reserved Forest (SRF) dependent households.
The NGOs are working by formation of community groups, conservation education, identifying SRF dependent households, skill development and vocational training of the community groups and awareness, children access to educational institution and community members to health clinic and water/sanitation services and women rehabilitation through farm activities.
It is found in the joymonirghole area that women are rearing poultry with the aid of the seals project the male persons, of course are still engaged in fishing.
Sundarbans has considerably high floral diversity and about 334 plant Species in total. Among them Sundari, Keora, Bean, Passur, Kankra, Goran, Golpata, Singra, Bhola, Hental, Khulshi and Gewa are most Common.
There are more than 375 wild life species in SRF which include 35 reptiles, 315 birds and 42 mammals. The major wildlife in Sundarbans are the Royal Bengal Tiger, Spotted deer, Wild Boan, Monkey, Estuarine crocodile, python, Turtle, Dolphin, Otter, Jungle, Cast, Fishing cat and a Variety of bird species.
It may be mentioned in this connection that the UNESCO World Heritage committee declared Sundarbans as its 798th heritage site on the 6th December 1997 under the categories (ii) and (iv) of the convention. The prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ceremonially unveiled the world Heritage plaque on February 4, 1999 which includes three wild life Sanctuary with an area of 1,39,700 hectare. Local people alleged, due to occupying lands , bio diversity of the Sundarbans are posing threat.
Experts think, necessary steps should be taken on urgent basis in order to save the wild lives.
Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Conservator of Forest (CF) of Khulna region said, the duty of the forest division is to look after inside the Sundarbans but the duty to observe the outside Sundarbans was assigned to another department, particularly to the Environment Department.
Md. Habibul Haque Khan, Director of Khulna Divisional Environment Directorate said, only 166 out of 190 industries and factories have taken the approval by the Environment Directorate, but the factories which are building factories without approval, lawful action will be taken immediately against them. He said adding that there are 24 Red-marked industries and factories who have not taken the approval by the Environment Directorate and the drive will be launched against the 24 factories-industries after getting the direction of the court.
Bio-diversity of the Sundarbans has been facing a great threat as Green Town LPG Plant is being built within one kilometer of the Sundarbans violating the directives of the High Court division of Supreme Court and also the Environmental Law.
The plant is being built by grabbing river Poshur at Banishanta area under Dakop police station of Khulna district. GLT group of Banani area in Dhaka is building this plant without taking any release letter or any kind of permission of the Environment Directorate, sources said. A Division Bench of Writ Jurisdiction of the Honorable Supreme Court’s High Court Division gave directives by prohibiting to build any industries within 10 kilometers of the Sundarbans as the Chairman of “Save the Sundarbans Founadation” Dr. Sheikh Faridul Islam has filed a Writ Petition in the month of April in 2017. But, LPG factory is being built by blocking road and grabbing river and Char.
It is beyond the knowledge of the Engineer of this establishment Md. Mahmud that industries or factories would not be allowed to build within 10 kilometers of the Sundarbans.
Project In-Charge of the LPG plant project told the journalists that he has recently joined and he does not know anything about the matter and he advised to contact Dhaka Head Office regarding the matter. Subodh kumer Roy, UP Chairman of Banishanta Union Parishad said, We have given objection in respect of building gas factory within one kilometer of the Sundarbans, due to rays of wielding of the gas factory, human being and the bio-diversity are facing threat severely, he added.
Biodiversity in the Sundarbans has been facing a great threat as some influential land pirates have been grabbing lands adjacent to the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world and also the largest
world heritage site, declared by the UNESCO.
The Sundarbans, the largest contiguous patch of Mangrove Forest in the world, constitutes 51 percent of the total reserved Forest estate and is also the richest natural resources of Bangladesh. Around 6 lacs persons are dependent upon the Sundarbans.
Population growth and economic development have brought immense pressure on mangrove wealth and its system for firewood, timber, fishes, honey and thatching materials. About 6 lacs people directly or indirectly depended on the resources of Sundarbans in a network of numerous Sundary and big streams and creeks in the adverse bioclimatic of mangrove forests infested with fierce wild animals-tiger in land and crocodile in water struggling for Survival. The forest department with the aid of EU fund through Seals project is initiative for diverting the minds of such Sundarbans independent people to the alternative way. Three NGOS named world vision, concern worldwide and Relief international EU funded NGO are working in the Sundarbans for developing alternative livelihoods for Sundarbans Reserved Forest (SRF) dependent households.
The NGOs are working by formation of community groups, conservation education, identifying SRF dependent households, skill development and vocational training of the community groups and awareness, children access to educational institution and community members to health clinic and water/sanitation services and women rehabilitation through farm activities.
It is found in the joymonirghole area that women are rearing poultry with the aid of the seals project the male persons, of course are still engaged in fishing.
Sundarbans has considerably high floral diversity and about 334 plant Species in total. Among them Sundari, Keora, Bean, Passur, Kankra, Goran, Golpata, Singra, Bhola, Hental, Khulshi and Gewa are most Common.
There are more than 375 wild life species in SRF which include 35 reptiles, 315 birds and 42 mammals. The major wildlife in Sundarbans are the Royal Bengal Tiger, Spotted deer, Wild Boan, Monkey, Estuarine crocodile, python, Turtle, Dolphin, Otter, Jungle, Cast, Fishing cat and a Variety of bird species.
It may be mentioned in this connection that the UNESCO World Heritage committee declared Sundarbans as its 798th heritage site on the 6th December 1997 under the categories (ii) and (iv) of the convention. The prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ceremonially unveiled the world Heritage plaque on February 4, 1999 which includes three wild life Sanctuary with an area of 1,39,700 hectare. Local people alleged, due to occupying lands , bio diversity of the Sundarbans are posing threat.
Experts think, necessary steps should be taken on urgent basis in order to save the wild lives.
Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Conservator of Forest (CF) of Khulna region said, the duty of the forest division is to look after inside the Sundarbans but the duty to observe the outside Sundarbans was assigned to another department, particularly to the Environment Department.
Md. Habibul Haque Khan, Director of Khulna Divisional Environment Directorate said, only 166 out of 190 industries and factories have taken the approval by the Environment Directorate, but the factories which are building factories without approval, lawful action will be taken immediately against them. He said adding that there are 24 Red-marked industries and factories who have not taken the approval by the Environment Directorate and the drive will be launched against the 24 factories-industries after getting the direction of the court.
