Critical crisis triggered from oil tanker capsize in River Shela Criss- Crossing the lone World Heritage and lifeline of Bangladesh the Sundarbans Mangrove forest has already threatened survival of many endangered species.
The place of incident is unfortunately the habitat of Irrawaddy Dolphin and many other rare aquatic animals.
Furnace oil that was being transported in a tanker struck and capsized by a cargo ship has already spilled over 50 KM area in the vulnerable section of the mangrove forest affecting a section of forest creating crisis to fishes , endangering fishes and aquatic animals and plants of Sundarbans.
The incident has also questioned credibility of managing movement of vessels with environment polluting commodity through very environment and eco system sensitive Sundarbans safely.
People already concerned of the possible and probable transportation of huge coal for Rampal Power plant have genuine reasons of questioning the competence of Bangladesh for managing the risks professionally.
The oil tanker capsize in the Shela River within the World Heritage Sundarbans Mangrove may cause irreversible ecological damage. Poor emergency response and Lack of preparedness for disaster management has already caused spillage to spread over 50 KM area threatening to cause serious damage to aquatic animals and some endangered species of the Sundarbans area.
At around 5 AM on the morning of Tuesday 9 December oil tanker “MV OT Southern Star Seven “was capsized after being struck by a cargo ship.
About 357,664 liters furnace oil the tanker was transporting started spilling into the water and delayed actions of salvaging the capsized tanker has already created a huge environmental hazard in the very sensitive Sundarbans area. The spilled furnace has already severely impacted the 50 KM area from Nandabala to Anadarmanik which includes the 20KM Sanctuary of the Irrawaddy Dolphin.
Why Mongla –KhasiaKhlai route could not be made ready for transporting Oil and Other products? Why and who authorized this transportation? Did Ministry of Inland Shipping co-ordinate with Ministry of Forest and Environment before letting such cargo to be transported? Was there any credible risk analysis done? Was any contingency management process in place? Why Coast Guards and Navy could not promptly start rescue and salvage operation? Did navy and coast guards have equipment and training for neutralizing the spilled oil with standard powders? How many wake up calls Bangladesh need to get up from hibernation? What quality of disaster preparedness we have for confronting such contingencies?
Sundarbans is Bangladesh life line. The country could be swept away in Tsunami or Tidal surge if Sundarbans like loving mother did not take the strikes and burin itself in protecting its baby Bangladesh on many occasions.
There is every reason to ask credible questions as to which authority regulates movement of vessels through rivers and canals inside very ecologically sensitive mangrove forest which is also our lone world heritage. What kind of coordination exists among the Ministries of Inland Shipping, Forest & Environment, Ministry of Power, Energy & Mineral Resources? What necessitates vessels carrying petroleum products ply through waterways inside Sundarbans? Did anyone carry out any risk analysis for risking such vessels of inflammable commodity? What was the disaster management preparedness? Why rescue and Salvage vessels could not be mobilized straightaway? What our three dimensional naval forces and high voltage coast guards possess for combat such crisis? How the irreversible damage can be compensated?
The crisis will raise new issues as to how safely the polluting coal will be transported from Akram Point to Coal terminal of Rampal Power Plant? Who will guarantee that such incident of smaller coal vessels capsize will not happen? Shallow vision lip service providers must carry out extensive risk analysis before allowing letting any vessels carrying environment impacting commodities plying through canals of our world heritage.
Over the last couple of weeks the country has experienced few wake up calls of catastrophic disasters. Power Grid collapse, Bibiyana Gas Field Production forced outage and Oil Tanker Capsize must open the eyes of senior policy makers.
Bangladesh is not equipped at all to manage the crisis arising out of any similar crisis. Power grid, gas grid are still vulnerable, Sundarbans is under serious environmental threat from ill coordination of concerned ministries and poor disaster management preparedness. Power Sector managers appear to have grown smarter after disaster, Gas sector which is walking on a very sensitive route of reliance on a single gas field remains extremely vulnerable as far as gas system security of supply is concerned. This writer has genuine doubt that transport of huge volume of coal through canals of Sundarban can be properly managed for Rampal Power plant.
BDST: 1744 HRS, DEC 11, 2014
