Bagerhat’s Rampal sees massive deforestation due to growing industries
A vast area of Bagerhat's Rampal upazila is at risk of environmental degradation due to massive industrialisation surrounding the power plant.
Sand-filling in croplands and water bodies in around 1,750 acres of land are going on in full swing, while hundreds of trees have been cut to set up factories and industries.
The area is currently in a desert-like situation from the rampant sand filling.
During a recent visit, this correspondent saw signboards of dozens of companies hoisted on the lands on both sides of Khulna-Rampal highway, stretching across the 15-kilometre area.
"Many companies are working here to set up their factories. Ours was an area calm and quiet with natural greeneries. Now life itself has become hazardous for us," said Yasin Miah (37), resident of Rampal's Tangramari area.
"We used to grow paddies and other crops in this area. Now all our croplands are filled up," said a resident of Rampal's Hurka village, seeking anonymity.
Some entrepreneurs are also turning croplands into shrimp enclosures.
Locals said they are in a severe crisis of drinking water and have to collect saline water from nearby ponds for their daily consumption.
Noor Alam Sheikh, convener of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa), said vast areas have been acquired for multiple mega-projects like Khan Jahan Ali Airport, railway and coal-based power plant, which is also contributing to the destruction of the environment.
"The amount of carbon dioxide in this region's air will sharply increase as trees and greeneries have been destroyed. The disappearance of water bodies will pose a severe threat to environmental degradation as well," said Prof Abdullah Harun Chowdhury of Khulna University's environmental sciences discipline.
Contacted, Arafin Badal, deputy director of the Department of Environment (DoE) in Bagerhat, said he would investigate and take action against anything that is causing environmental hazards in the area.
Comments