Staff Reporter :
Amid the calls of environmentalists, the government is going to open the Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel for water vessels next month (June) to bypass plying through the Sundarbans.
The government has permitted the vessels to run through the Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel on experimental basis since May 6, though it is not fully completed for water transportation, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a new conference at the secretariat, he said, “There has been a long demand for the opening of Mongla-Ghasiakhali route in a bid to save the Sundarbans. The environmentalists have demanded a stop to the
movements of the water vessels through the Sundarbans to save the greatest mangrove forest in the world.”
“The capsize of an oil-tanker in Shela river at Sundarbans on December 9 last year caused widespread destruction of environment in the area. In view of the damaging effect of the vessels’ movement, we have re-excavated the 13-kilometer long channel, spending Taka 113 crore to make the waterway navigable,” he said.
The opening of the channel will also reduce 87 kilometers of additional waterways, he said.
The excavation of a stretch of 13 kilometres of Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel has already been completed, while the other nine kilometers will be done by the end of June to make the waterway navigable. “We have started excavating last July. Apart from that, we’ll excavate 32 other canals directly connected with the Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel.”
“The plying of water vessels through the Sundarbans will completely be stopped after the opening of the channel. It will save the plants and animals of the forest from destruction,” he said.
In reply to a query, the Minister said the Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel is major waterway to trade business with India. The channel is open for water vessels since May 6 on an experimental basis and, as of now, 276 vessels have passed through it since then, Shajahan Khan said.
The environmentalists have long been demanding the stop of vessels’ movement through the Sundarbans and, as an alternative way, they suggested the opening of Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel.
Different newspapers, including The New Nation, carried several reports highlighting the destructive effect of water vessels travelling through the Sundarban rivers.
Amid the calls of environmentalists, the government is going to open the Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel for water vessels next month (June) to bypass plying through the Sundarbans.
The government has permitted the vessels to run through the Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel on experimental basis since May 6, though it is not fully completed for water transportation, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a new conference at the secretariat, he said, “There has been a long demand for the opening of Mongla-Ghasiakhali route in a bid to save the Sundarbans. The environmentalists have demanded a stop to the
movements of the water vessels through the Sundarbans to save the greatest mangrove forest in the world.”
“The capsize of an oil-tanker in Shela river at Sundarbans on December 9 last year caused widespread destruction of environment in the area. In view of the damaging effect of the vessels’ movement, we have re-excavated the 13-kilometer long channel, spending Taka 113 crore to make the waterway navigable,” he said.
The opening of the channel will also reduce 87 kilometers of additional waterways, he said.
The excavation of a stretch of 13 kilometres of Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel has already been completed, while the other nine kilometers will be done by the end of June to make the waterway navigable. “We have started excavating last July. Apart from that, we’ll excavate 32 other canals directly connected with the Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel.”
“The plying of water vessels through the Sundarbans will completely be stopped after the opening of the channel. It will save the plants and animals of the forest from destruction,” he said.
In reply to a query, the Minister said the Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel is major waterway to trade business with India. The channel is open for water vessels since May 6 on an experimental basis and, as of now, 276 vessels have passed through it since then, Shajahan Khan said.
The environmentalists have long been demanding the stop of vessels’ movement through the Sundarbans and, as an alternative way, they suggested the opening of Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel.
Different newspapers, including The New Nation, carried several reports highlighting the destructive effect of water vessels travelling through the Sundarban rivers.
