Staff Reporter :Four days into the capsize of the tanker and spilling of oil on the Sundarbans’ rivers, the Forest Department (FD) on Saturday started collecting the spilled furnace oil from the rivers. The FD has hired 100 boats and at least 200 workers to collect the spilled oil from the adjoining 30 cannels of two rivers namely Shela and Pashur, using local equipments. Amir Hossain, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Sundarbans East Zone, told media that they did not get any clearance from the higher authorities about cleaning up the spilled oil using chemical dispersant. That is why they had started to collect the oil manually to save the world’s largest mangrove forest and its natural resources. The oil collection will continue until further notice, he added. Meanwhile, the state-owned Padma Oil Company has bought around 7,200 litres of the 3,50,000 litres spilled oil from the locals at Tk 30 per litre. The local administration on Thursday announced to engage local people in collecting the floating oil from the river water, but the majority of the locals are still reluctant about it as the oil collection is difficult in traditional method. According to the Forest Department officials, the oil slick has already spread over some 80-100 square kilometer areas through the rivers and canals meandering across the mangrove forest, and due to tidal waves, the slick has invaded a significant portion of the shores. Sights of birds and other wildlife are also becoming scantier in the area. The OT Southern Star 7 tanker carrying some 3.57 lakh litres of furnace oil sank in the Shela River near Mrigmari in the Sundarbans East Zone after being hit by a cargo vessel on Tuesday, causing a serious threat to the flora and fauna of the mangrove forest and its natural resources due to the oil spill. The oil spill has already made a huge impact on aquatic plants and wildlife.Following the incident, the government on Wednesday banned the sailing of all kinds of vessels through the Shela River until further notice. Meanwhile, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan on Saturday said that the ban on movement of vessels has hit the traffic at the Mongla Sea Port. “The port faces a crisis of image. The decision about cruising of water vessels through the Shela river route will be taken at an inter-ministerial meeting today (Sunday), he said while speaking to reporters at the Joymoni forest jetty after visiting the Sundarbans.Meanwhile, the environmentalists have expressed annoyance at the ‘negligence’ of the government for not taking initiative to handle the impact of oil spilling, even after four days of the incident. They have urged the government to take immediate steps to protect the Sundarbans and the Shela and the Pashur rivers. “We are annoyed with the government’s negligence in handling the post oil spilling situation,” said Abu Naser Khan, Chairman of Poribesh Bachao Andolon (Poba). He made the comment after visiting the spot on Saturday. He said that the oil spill would destroy these organisms and harm the forest’s biodiversity. The government can restrict the spill using foam and net and then clean up the oil with help of experts, he added.
