THE government decision to allow industries and legalize existing ones in the Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) around Sundarbans clearly shows that it is compromising the sensitive issue to pressure from powerful quarter inside and outside the country. The move came at a time when UNESCO has asked the government to carry out a Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) in the region before taking any such step that may allow setting big plants and other industries in the area only to hasten destruction of the Sundarbans. We find it really difficult why the government is so adamant to give permission to big and small infrastructure in the area breaking existing environmental rules put in place as late as in 2015.
It clearly ignore concerns of people and environmental groups at home and abroad agitating against Rampal Coal-Based Power Plants and this time new industries captured the list at great risk to the mangrove forest. The UNESCO recognizes Sundarbans as a world heritage and is opposed to any industry that will cause emission and pollute air and water to aggravate the critical ecological balance of the area around the forest zone. We demand that the government should pay heed to the calls of the environmentalist groups, the latest being issued early this week to refrain from allowing any industry in the ecologically sensitive area and rollback the ones already exist.
It is really awful that the National Environmental Committee in a meeting last week legalised about 150 industries in 63 unions of 11 upazilas of five districts around the Sundarbans. The meeting also decided to relax and change some rules and policies to allow industries, potentially risky for the environment in the area. Earlier, permission was denied to any polluting industry around Sundarbans but the latest move shows a clear shift from earlier policies.
Despite the fact that the Environment Ministry stopped environmental clearance to industries in the area from 2015 following a gazette notification in this regard, the new decision of the government to relax and change some rules to allow LPG bottling plants and such other industries in the area appear self-defeating. Bangladesh Environment Conservation Rules-1997 had also sidetracked LPG bottling plants.
What is more shocking is that many industrialists have already bought farmland in villages near the Rampal power plant and are taking environment clearances to set up plants destroying crop land. Cluster of villages are under threat for eventual evacuation as industries are spreading; some of them within a kilometer of Rampal Power Plant. It is true new industries may provide jobs to thousands as Sundarbans now provides livelihood to millions. But once forest protection to the region from cyclonic storm will fade away, the consequence may prove suicidal. In our view the government should review the new decision only to allow industries far away from the forest.
It clearly ignore concerns of people and environmental groups at home and abroad agitating against Rampal Coal-Based Power Plants and this time new industries captured the list at great risk to the mangrove forest. The UNESCO recognizes Sundarbans as a world heritage and is opposed to any industry that will cause emission and pollute air and water to aggravate the critical ecological balance of the area around the forest zone. We demand that the government should pay heed to the calls of the environmentalist groups, the latest being issued early this week to refrain from allowing any industry in the ecologically sensitive area and rollback the ones already exist.
It is really awful that the National Environmental Committee in a meeting last week legalised about 150 industries in 63 unions of 11 upazilas of five districts around the Sundarbans. The meeting also decided to relax and change some rules and policies to allow industries, potentially risky for the environment in the area. Earlier, permission was denied to any polluting industry around Sundarbans but the latest move shows a clear shift from earlier policies.
Despite the fact that the Environment Ministry stopped environmental clearance to industries in the area from 2015 following a gazette notification in this regard, the new decision of the government to relax and change some rules to allow LPG bottling plants and such other industries in the area appear self-defeating. Bangladesh Environment Conservation Rules-1997 had also sidetracked LPG bottling plants.
What is more shocking is that many industrialists have already bought farmland in villages near the Rampal power plant and are taking environment clearances to set up plants destroying crop land. Cluster of villages are under threat for eventual evacuation as industries are spreading; some of them within a kilometer of Rampal Power Plant. It is true new industries may provide jobs to thousands as Sundarbans now provides livelihood to millions. But once forest protection to the region from cyclonic storm will fade away, the consequence may prove suicidal. In our view the government should review the new decision only to allow industries far away from the forest.
