A patch-up job!

After much protests, Palli Bidyut Samity have finally insulated the electrical power lines installed inside Mymensingh’s Santoshpur Reserve Forest yesterday, that have reportedly caused burn injuries to monkeys in the forest, including at least one death.

But the officials only covered 0.5km of the total 7.50km power line inside the forest area, saying that the primates usually roam around in that area.

Officials of the forest department said Palli Bidyut only insulated a small part of the wires, saying that the number of primates is high there. “We demanded that they cover the entire power line of 7.5km. They just replaced 0.5km [of wires] and left,” Ashraful Alam Khan, a beat officer of Bangladesh Forest Department, told our Mymensingh correspondent.

“We hope that the authorities will do so gradually for the safety of monkeys,” said the official. “Monkeys roam in troops and other members can get hurt while trying to rescue or save a primate in danger,” Ashraful said.

He said in May 2018, the forest department had asked the Palli Bidyut to refrain from laying any overhead power cable through the forest but they did not pay heed.

The reserve forest in Phulbaria upazila is habitat to various wildlife including more than 350 wild monkeys.

Contacted, Md Makbul Hossain, general manager of Palli Bidyut-1, said the power line was inaugurated on December 15 last year through the forest. “After learning about the recent incidents, we have decided to cover the wire.”

As to why they decided to cover only half km power line, he said, “These primates generally remain in that area. There’s no fear of accidents now.”

Asked again how he could be so sure about their movement, he said, “We will think about insulating the entire line. We recently held a general manager-level meeting in the capital and have decided to install insulated power lines through reserved forests from now on.”

At least one wild monkey died of electrocution and 10 badly burned in 15 days [from December 15-31] after the power line was inaugurated.

Contacted, Md Mizanur Rahman, deputy commissioner of Mymensingh, said they are working with Palli Bidyut authorities to make the forest a haven for wildlife. “We have started treating the injured monkeys by feeding them medicines inside banana,” he added.

LEGAL NOTICE SERVED

Meanwhile, a legal notice was served on authorities concerned of the government to remove the electrical power lines. People for Animal Welfare (PAW) Foundation, a voluntary organisation working for animal rights, served the notice on January 8.

Supreme Court Advocate Barrister Shihab Uddin Khan, on behalf of PAW Foundation, served the notice demanding removal of the power lines within 24 hours of receiving it.

Secretaries to the ministry of power and ministry of environment; chief conservator of forests; chairman and superintending engineer of BREF; UNO of Phulbaria; deputy general manager of Palli Bidyut Samity’s Phulbaria zonal office; divisional forest officer, range officer, and beat officer of Santoshpur under were made respondents to the legal notice.

The notice also urged the forest department to ensure treatment and rehabilitation of the injured monkeys.