ANOTHER cargo vessel sank with 510 tons of coal in Pashur River on the Sundarbans last week bringing new threat to the ecology and biodiversity of the forest. It is polluting the water to damage the forest and harm the animals. We strongly demand to stop playing commercial cargo vessels through the Sundarbans to save it from destruction. Many wonder why the Shipping Ministry is not restricting plying of cargo vessels in rivers running through the forest ignoring recommendations of the United Nations expert team and local environmentalists; particularly made after the sinking of a big cargo vessel carrying huge amount of petroleum products one year back. It was a big disaster that raised alarms at all level about the safety of the world’s biggest mangrove forest now listed as a UNESCO heritage.
Another vessel with huge quantity of fertilizer also drowned in the river inside the Sundarbans early this year raising renewed calls to shut the river routes to cargo vessels. But as we see the Shipping Ministry remained defiant; although it is not that they are not aware of the danger of water pollution from oil spill and such other materials to the forest and its bio-diversity including rare fish population in the rivers. But it is no secret that vested interest groups within the government are so powerful that the Shipping Ministry yields to their pressure to allow vessels to operate through the Sundarbans to reach their destinations at cheaper cost and in short time. In almost all drowning incidents, it appears that the persons running the vessels or owning the cargoes are essentially ruling party men wielding immense power to use the river routes to run commercial cargoes. They are more akin to destroy the nature to their own advantage and there is no known case in which they were punished or forced to pay against damage.
Investigation into last week’s sinking held responsible engine master’s incompetence and negligence who was plying an old vessel in which cracks had developed on the body before it drowned with huge quantity of coal loaded in the haul. Almost similar charges were brought against vessels’ masters in earlier cases of drowning of vessels but the disasters continue as their causes went unheeded. The fact is that if the persons responsible to protect the forest and its rivers are not showing accountability and not putting ban on old vessels, such accidents would continue at regular interval.
What is surprising is the lack of coordination between the Shipping Ministry and the Forest Ministry and other agencies; which are responsible to protect the Sundarbans. Many expert groups are working for the forest and making valuable suggestions but policy makers are always sidetracking their advice. It is true that shipping routes running outside the Sundarbans have silted almost blocking the plying of vessels. But it does not justify destroying the Sundarbans which man can’t create again.
