UN team's final report by Dec 31
The United Nations team inspecting the oil spill in the Sundarbans will submit their report to the government on December 31.
“The team will stay in the Sundarbans to assess the impact of the spillage until next Sunday and submit the report at the end of this month,” Emilia Wahlstrom, the team leader, told reporters at a briefing in Andharmanik area of Chandpai Range in the Sundarbans yesterday.
Emilia informed that the UN experts are investigating the effects of oil spill in six groups. “We're on a UN-Bangladesh joint mission for the Sundarbans oil spill response,” she said.
The team consists of 25 experts from home and abroad and is studying the environment, wildlife, forest and the potential impact on humans. They are now checking the situation in the rivers and creeks and taking samples and talking to communities.
As per the action plan (of the Sundarbans oil spill response mission), it will use a combination of literature reviews, on-site assessments and interviews to come up with findings and make recommendations.
“We will prepare our report on the basis of the scientific findings,” Emilia said.
The UN team will organise a press conference after it submits the report to the government, said Emilia.
Shipping Secretary Shafiq Alam Mehedi and Environment and Forest Secretary Nojibur Rahman along with the chief conservator of forest (CCF) and the director general of the Department of Environment met the UN team yesterday.
They also visited the Mongla-Ghoshiakhali channel dredging site. The dredging work of the channel started last Monday.
Meanwhile, the shipping ministry is yet to instruct cargo vessel owners to use other routes to go to the Mongla port other than using the Shela river.
Our Pirojpur correspondent reports, around 500 merchant vessels have anchored in different rivers and channels in Barisal, Jhalokathi, Bagerhat and Pirojpur after authorities banned all vessels on the Shela river following the December 9 accident.
These ships are loaded with clinker, cement, sand, stone, even food.
“I have been waiting here since December 12 after hearing that the movement of commercial vessels through the Shela river has been banned,” said Shahidul Islam, master of MV Jalal Gias Uddin. Shahidul's vessel is now anchored in the Sandha river near Kumyana village in Kawkhali of Pirojpur.
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