Saving the Sundarbans

A lot has been said about the possible dangers posed to the Sundarbans by the Rampal power plant project. But what has perhaps escaped our notice is the growing industrialisation near the Rampal power plant which too has the potential to do great harm to the Sundarbans and its biodiversity. 

According to a report on October 25 in our front page, a few industries have already been seen to have sprouted up near the power plant. Signboards dotting demarcated plots for new industrial complexes are also noticeable and all of them are within 14-16 kilometres of the Sundarbans. What is surprising, however, is that according to officials, only three out of these numerous industrial plot owners have permission from the government to set up industries there.

Why the Sundarbans is so vital has already been discussed on numerous occasions and at length. Given its indispensability, can we continue to play this dangerous game of chicken by setting up more and more industrial complexes, increasing the possibility of something going wrong, resulting in a disaster that will all but destroy this one of a kind mangrove forest? When the British left India, the Sundarbans was 37,813 square kilometres. Today it has already shrunk to a mere 10,000 square kilometres — 6,000 in Bangladesh and 4,000 in India. With the planned industrialisation so close to it, surely that will be reduced even more. 

The authorities cannot allow this to happen, as it has been proven again and again, that when humans stop respecting the environment, it is humans themselves who are the worst sufferers. There is no need for us to relearn that lesson the hard way.