ealtors catch govt napping
Fam Kam Delta Ltd, a company mainly doing garment business, has put up a signboard claiming ownership of the land right on the bank of the river Shela at Jaymani in Bagerhat. Jaymani (also called Jaymanirgol) is the last human settlement in the southern region as seen on Google map. To set up factories, many industrialists are purchasing plots in this area, close to the Sundarbans just across the river.
Jaymani (also called Jaymanirgol) is the last human settlement in the southern region as seen on Google map.
Plots are up for sale to establish hazardous industries and other installations just 200 metres away from the Sundarbans where the mangrove forest is already ecologically endangered.
If one takes a stroll round Bagerhat’s Jaymani village, the last human settlement before the forest, they can easily spot hundreds of signboards along the banks of the Pashur and the Shela rivers.
According to the local administration, investors have already bought “almost the entire stretch of land” from Mongla up to Jaymani ignoring the potential threats to the rich biodiversity of the forest that is home to some 400 Royal Bengal Tigers.
“Plots are suitable for setting up any kind of large industries. Size of a plot is up to 1,000 acres. It can be even larger if you are interested,” reads an advertisement aimed at selling land along the forest.
The adverts offer industrial plots for hazardous industries like ship-breaking yards and oil refinery plants or for resorts in a location as close as 200 metres from the radius of the world’s largest mangrove forest.
“They have already purchased almost all the pieces of land on the banks of those two rivers,” said Dr Mizanur Rahman, upazila nirbahi officer of Mongla.
“The Sundarbans is merely 200 metres away from Jaymani village. Any adverse activities there would put huge pressure on the forest,” said Mizan who has recently done his PhD on environmental issues.
Locals say the trend of buying plots was first seen when the government started construction of a 50,000-tonne food grain silo and a dockyard at Jaymani.
The proposed Padma bridge was another reason that encouraged the investors to rush to the area, Dr Mizan added.
A number of the industrial plot-owners have already said in their websites that they have got “government approval” to launch their respective industries.
“Any kind of industries near the forest would further ruin the forest,” said Amir Hossain Chowdhury, deputy forest officer of the Sundarbans (East).
“May be Mongla and its surrounding areas are okay for industries but no areas deeper than that,” Amir added.
As per the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act (Amendment), 2010, nobody can set up an industry within 10 kilometres of a reserve forest without permission from the government.
The environment conservation law also has a provision of taking a clearance certificate from the Department of Environment before setting up an industry.
The Bangladesh Environment Policy, 1992 says the government must discourage measures which would be harmful for a forest and its wildlife.
However, in reality the government itself is setting up industries near the forest and also encouraging the private investors.
Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation is going to build 14 reservoir tanks in Mongla with a capacity of 100,000 tonnes by next year.
The Ministry of Industries has announced to set up a hazardous ship-breaking yard at the edge of the forest in Patharghata which would be another threat to the forest.
After assuming office, the present government made Bangladesh Tiger Action Plan in 2009 and enlisted multiple threats for the Sundarbans and its flagship animal the Bengal Tiger.
The Sundarbans stretching around 10,000 square kilometres jointly in Bangladesh and India is the single biggest tiger habitat that also supports a diverse fauna of total 35 species of reptiles, over 270 species of birds and 42 species of mammals.
The green campaigners have been raising their voices against this government-and-private invasion of the forest.
“If proper actions are not taken, the Sundarbans would become an industrial zone in near future,” said Abdul Matin, member secretary of the newly formed National Committee to Protect the Sundarbans.
Noor Alam, vice-chairman of Mongla Municipality, said though the forest is shrinking day by day, still it starts to rise on the other side of the Pashur river just seven kilometres away from Mongla.
So, as per the existing laws, setting up industries is not permissible even in the Mongla Port areas.
“According to Google Map, the site for the proposed Rampal power plant is just nine and a half kilometres away from the forest. The silo and dockyard are apparently zero kilometre from the forest as the Chandpai forest range office is located at Jaymani village,” added Noor Alam.
Fam Kam Delta Ltd is a group of industries mainly doing garment business that has bought 60 acres of land at Jaymani.
“We are buying land on the banks of the Shela river after obtaining permission from the district administration. We are planning to open a resort there,” said Md Shahrul, who introduced himself as the general manager of the organisation.
Another company Sun Meril Ltd had bought a patch of land near their plots to set up a ship-breaking yard there, he added.
Source: The Daily Star
