The undoing of a World Heritage Site

Today, facing a governmental decision of enormous national and international consequences, we, on behalf of Women for Good Governance, appeal to the leaders, activists and people of Bangladesh as well as the world, to deter from the dangerous path we are about to embark on that could cause incalculable, irreversible damages to a natural treasure accepted by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site – the Sundarbans. Situated at the coastal area of Bangladesh on the Bay of Bengal, the largest mangrove forest works as a shield to lessen the devastating effects of often visited cyclones and/or high tidal waves.

The Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company - consisting of the Bangladesh Power Development Board and the Indian 'National Thermal Power Corporation' [NTPC] - in 2010 decided to establish a 1320 megawatt coal-based power plant, occupying 1,834 acre land, only 14 kilometres away from the world heritage site. Environment and ecology experts predict that the plant, by burning a huge amount of coal, would release toxic gases that would put the surrounding areas, and most importantly the Sundarbans, at grave risk.

It is critically important to note that when the NTPC wanted to construct similar coal-based power plants in Gajmarra, Madhya Pradesh and in the Indian part of the Sundarbans, the plans were outright rejected by the Indian Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and by both the state and central authorities facing overwhelming public protests. These NTPC projects were stopped on ground of causing 'irreparable damage' to the forest and the environment ("NTPC's coal-based project in MP turned down", October 8, 2010, The Hindu)..

However, in case of Bangladesh, governments of both countries have been relentless in assuring public that 'state of the art' technology would prevent the detrimental effects and make the power plant safe. Why then has the NTPC and the Indian government failed to convince its own people of such safety measures? Why did their projects not get the approval, either from the authorities or the court or the people? The credentials of the said company is also under question considering the fact that numerous projects of NTPC were rejected by the Green Tribunal of India due to the past records of the company.

Even a bench of the Bangladesh High Court on March 1, 2011 asked the government why the construction of the plant should not be declared illegal ("HC seeks four past orders on Rampal power project", October 1, 2013, The Daily Star). The government has continuously been ignoring concerns like these as well as opinions of experts and outrage of the people, expressed through endless discussions and demonstrations.

The validity of safety measures assured by vested interests have also been questioned and even challenged by experts and professionals in this country as well as outside. The past records of such coal-based power plants in the world do not substantiate the effectiveness of such measures.

The Department of Energy of Bangladesh in August 2013 gave 50 conditions for the plant; the most prominent among which was to remove the site beyond 25 kilometre away from the heritage site that is ecologically sensitive. This project also violates the terms and conditions of the Ramsar Convention declaration of which Bangladesh itself is a signatory.

This beautiful forest  - similar to the mangrove forest of Amazon or Florida that contribute to the ecosystem of the world - is nourished by a network of tributaries from the major rivers such as the Ganges, Padma, and Brhamaputra that flow through Bangladesh, making the country one of the biggest delta lands in the world. This forest still sustains endangered species such as the Royal Bengal Tiger, rare species of deer, alligators, crocodiles, turtles and other animals and plant life: 330 different types of plants and shrubs, 400 different types of fishes, 270 different kinds of birds, and 42 kinds of mammals, all making it one of the most bio-diverse forests in the world, contributing to the ecological balance not only of Bangladesh but the whole planet. Three million people live in the mangrove forest area and their livelihood depends on its produce – such as the fish, woods, honey, spices, medicinal herbs, agriculture etc. – that are distributed to the entire country and beyond.

It is understandable that more power-plants are necessary in Bangladesh to meet the growing electricity need of over 160 million people. However, the location, technology and alternative sources are serious concerns. Apart from establishing the plant 25 kms from the forest, the technology of the proposed plant should be supervised, monitored and approved by a team of world experts and not by representatives of either of the two governments to avoid conflicts of interest and to gain public trust. Alternative sources, such as solar power, could be seriously considered, especially considering the burgeoning solar power industry in Bangladesh that installs over 65,000 solar home systems every month, making it the largest and fastest growing off-grid program in the world. A solar plant can be set up in slightly over a year, as opposed to the four to five years that a coal plant takes, thereby providing electricity very quickly to people who desperately need it. We vehemently advocate such clean and renewable power generation to meet the power need of this country.

 The coal-based power generation plant in Rampal could have disastrous effects on the economy and ecology of this environmentally vulnerable country that is already threatened by global warming, shrinking coastal areas and increased salinity. The power plant would require 4.72 million tons of coal every year. The carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and sulfar dioxide emitted from the plant would threaten the ecosystem of the entire area. An estimated 59 barges, each carrying 80,000 tonnes of coal to the plant would scatter ashes, dirt and sulfar in the air and create a blanket of ash on the leaves, thereby seriously impeding the health of the forest. In addition, about 40 kilometre forest area along the banks of the Passur River has to be completely cleared up. Even though we've said it before, we can't stress enough that the irreversible damages of the power plant could severely affect the economy and quality of life of the country for generations to come.

The writer is Executive Director, Women for Good Governance.