Environmental Disaster in Sundarbans-2014

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• published: 27 Dec 2014
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Today we’ll discuss about the problems arising due to the recent disaster in Sundarbans and how to overcome the crisis. On my left, we have River Specialist Dr. Ainun Nishat, Professor Emeritus, BRAC University. Then we have, Mr. Md. Yunus Ali, Chief Conservator of Forests. On my right, we have Mr. Junaid Kabir Choudhury, Forests Specialist. And Professor Dr. Monirul Khan, Wildlife Specialist, Jahangirnagar University. First I’ll ask CCF Md. Yunus Ali, What impacts do you think this disaster have on Sundarbans? Sundarbans is a natural forest. The natural regeneration system is very fruitful in here due to its tidal system. When any disaster happen, such as- sinking of the oil-tanker on 9th of this month in an area named Mrigamari in Shela River. The incident remained unsighted in the morning due to heavy fog. Later when Forest Department staffs and local fishermen noticed the incident, they tried to block some oil. And by the evening of that day, the news spread in Dhaka, Mongla, Khulna and other places. As soon as I got the news, I talked to the Chairman and Secretary of BIWTA under the Ministry of Shipping about the issue. And the very next morning I went there to visit the accident spot. On my way from Mongla, I smelled a pungent odor in Poshur River and I saw Furnace oil to spread on water and wrap around debris of rivers & canals. Considering the scenarios, we suggested to collect the oil. But any fruitful containment system, like using Improvised boom technology, didn’t instantly occur to us and other agencies that were active there, like: Bangladesh Navy. As a result, the oil spread vastly. But effective containment by making boom and subsequently filtering oil through manmade improvisation system didn’t start until 11th of this month. I was there and that oil-tanker was rescued on 11th through a private sector initiative. But by then almost all oils were spread. I also visited a camp in Andharmanik and found that not all of the creeks of canals are complete creek, there is also dead end of the creek and such creeks were the most affected. And ultimately the oil that came with high-tide got stuck with mudflat during low-tide due to stickiness and less solubility. You mean the oil didn’t reach inside Sundarbans properly? No, but the mudflats on both sides of creeks and rivers are heavily covered with oil as those places remain exposed during low-tide and become covered with water during high-tide. I’ve seen oil layer in there during my second visit also and it would be very difficult to clear it, as the oil has mixed with mud. We have collected some oil from water with the help of local people. As of yesterday, we have collected around 68,500 liters oil with the help of local fishermen & forest dependent people. Since they don’t have any work at present, it was easy to encourage them to help. They were encouraged mainly for two reasons: 1- They’ve got their wages and 2- Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation has purchased this water mixed Furnace oil from them. Around 3 Lac liters oil was there in the tanker, right? Yes. How much oil was found after the retrieval of the tanker? They claimed to have found 50,000 liters oil, but most of it is water-mixed. I see. I’ll come back to you later, Mr. Junaid Kabir, What would be the impacts of this floating oil on the floras of Sundarbans? Thank you. The natural regeneration system in Sundarbans will be hampered if the seeds become mixed with oil. This will be the first impact on seed. Most of the regeneration in Sundarbans happen due to seeds as they float and spread throughout the forest. The second impact will be on seedling. Most of the seedlings remain up to 9 inch high for 3 years. If oil touches the top of those 9 inch tall seedlings, their tip will become heavy and they will bend downward and will ultimately die. Mangroves have Pneumatophores with a lot of small holes. If that water & silt mixed oil get into those Pneumatophores it will create stress for plants. Trees will be stressed, last 2-3 years’ seedlings will die and ultimately the present vegetation of Sundarbans will decline in future. I’ll come back to you again. Professor Dr. Monirul Khan, You recently have visited the disaster area, please tell us about the impacts of the spilled oil on wildlife there. Thank you. I’ve visited the area after the recent disaster there. Naturally every life is somehow related to water. But those wildlife are the most sufferer that live in and around water, for example: Dolphin, Otter, Crocodile, Monitor lizard etc. Since every wildlife drinks this water, this polluted water will essentially harm all of them. For instance, you may know that we have found two dead Otters there. We found those corpse in a tinny canal. If we didn’t go in that canal, we wouldn’t have known about those two Otters. So, the picture we are getting is not actually the complete picture.