Bagerhat Correspondent :
The salinity of the water of the rivers and canals those crisscrossed Sundarbans has increased to a great extent and its detrimental effect very badly affected on the less saline tolerant trees and wild animals. So the Forest Department has undertaken a plan to excavate and re-excavate as many as 88 big sized ponds/reservoirs (of sweet water) in Sundarbans in order to minimize the bad effect of excessive salinity in the water of the forest which will ultimately play an important role to save its biodiversity in a great extent.
It is learnt from the forest department source that various natural and human aggressions are on the increase on Sundarbans, the biggest mangrove forest of the world and one of the world heritages site gradually. Following the increase of salinity in the water of rivers and canals within the forest its less saline tolerant trees like Sundari and Pashur which are regarded as the most valuable and precious trees are on the verge of extinction and on the other hand, wild animals are also on threat.
On the other hand, increasing silting up of sands, erosion of the rivers and canals and the regular movements of the big sized water vessels (on them), causing much damaged to Sundarbans. In order to save the forest (Sundarbans) and its biodiversity form the hands of this natural and man made problems the necessity of excavation and re-excavation of ponds in the forest are greatly realized at present by the concerned authorities.
It is learnt from an official of Sundarbans that as per the plan already taken by the Forest Department, as many as 88 ponds will be excavated and re-excavated in the forest. A number of ponds had already been silted up for long due to the natural calamities and the negligence of the forest department. Pucca Ghats (sloping steps leading down to the water level of ponds) of 70 ponds in the forest that is flodded with the saline water of the high tide twice in a day. It is also disclosed by the forest officials, if those ponds are excavated and re-excavated the long felt requirement (demand) of sweet and pure (fresh) drinking water of at least 4 hundred wild animals including the Royal Bengal tigers, the real guards of Sundarbans and enchanted and spotted deer of the forest will be meet up.
It is also learnt from the forest department that the ponds will be mainly excavated in those areas of the forest where wild animals like Royal Bengal tigers, spotted deer and other (wild) animals are abundantly available. The ponds will be excavated and re-excavated in the Sundarbans at a cost of Tk.4 crors 98 lakh allocated from the Climate Trust Fund of the Govt. and this work should be completed within the month of June, 2021. In this connection Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of the Forest told, if this great effort is materialized the requirement or long felt demand of pure/fresh drinking water for almost all species of animals of Sundarbans will be solved permanently. This work will be completed within a very short time.
It is also learnt from the forest department that under the programmes 2 ponds will be re-excavated at Dublar Char and 3 new ponds will be excavated at Bogi under Sharankhola forest Rang in the Eastern Division of Sundarbans of Bagerhat district. Besides this, 24 ponds will be re-excavated in the different places of this forest range. Out of them 4 will be re-excavated at Kachikhali sanctuary forest, 3 at Dubla area, 2 at Sharankhola Sadar Range (office area) and 2 at Dasherbharani area. Not only that but also one pond will be re-excavated at Dumuria, Charkhali, Terabeka, Chandeswar, Shapla, Bhola, Shelarchar, Kokilmoni and Supati areas.
On the other hand, 26 ponds will be re-excavated at the different places under Chandpai Forest Range. Out of them 3 at Dhansagar, 2 at Gulishakhali and 2 at Amarbunia areas will be re-excavated. Besides this, one pond will be re-excavated at Chandpai, Dhyangmari, Laudop, Ghagramari, Chengra, Nangli, Harintana, Kalamtezi, Tambulbunia, Jewdhara, Baraitala, Katakhali, Shuarmara, Morapashur, Badyamari, Andharmanik, Harbaria, Nandanbala and Charpuitia.
It is mentionable here that the total area of Sundarbans in Bangladesh is 6 thousand 17 squire kilometers which is 51 per cent of the total reserved forest of the country.
There are as many as 334 species of plants including Sundari, Pashur, Gewa, Garan etc. in Sundarbans while there are as many as 375 species of wild animals. Out of them there are 42 species mammals including Royal Bengal tiger, spotted deer, pig, monkey, dolphin, otter etc., 400 species of fish, 35 spices of reptiles like crocodiles, iguana, pythons, poisonous snakes including king cobra etc., 8 species of amphibians and 315 spices of birds in Sundarbans.
3 places comprising 30 per cent of total Sundabns were declared as (798th) world heritage site by UNESCO on December 06 in the year 1997. Some 4 thousand 1 hundred 42, 6 squire kilometers salty lands out of the total lands of Sundarbans are inundated with sea water twice a day at the time of high tide.
The area of the water body of Sundarbans is about 1,874 squire kilometers encompasses rivers, small streams and canals. Rivers in the Sundarbans are meeting places of salt water amd fresh water. The forest consists of about 200 islands, separated by about 400 interconnected tidal rivers, creeks and canals.
But unfortunately by this time due to natural calamities and human aggressions one specie of wild buffalo, 2 species of deer, 2 species of rhinos and one specie of crocodile of sweet water have already disappeared from Sundarbans for good.
In spite of that it is still an area suitable for watching and studying avifauna.
