Sundarbans
Oil Spill Assessment report has revealed major weaknesses in water traffic
management through the Sundarbans and in present measures taken to prevent
pollution.
Sundarbans
Oil Spill: Govt-UN team puts forward 10-point recommendations
The
final report of Government-UN Joint Sundarbans Oil Spill Response Mission
released on Sunday, putting forward a 10-point recommendation to avert further
environment disaster in the mangrove forest, UNB reports.
The
management of through the Sundarbans and measures taken to prevent pollution
are currently weak, says the final report of Government-UN Joint Sundarbans Oil
Spill Response Mission released here on Sunday, putting forward a 10-point
recommendation to avert further environment disaster in the mangrove forest.
Suggesting
a strengthened inland water vessel management regime, the report says in the
Shela River there is an immediate need to stagger the large number of vessels
waiting to pass, ban vessel passage during nighttime and foggy weather and
prohibit all anchoring in the channel if it is not emergency.
The
report, tilted ‘Sundarbans Oil Spill Assessment’, was launched at Cirdap
auditorium in the capital. Environment and Forests Minister Anwar Hossain Manju
and UN resident coordinator Robert Watkins, among others, spoke at the
function.
According
to the report, the short-term impacts of the oil spill seem to be limited, but
further monitoring has to be strengthened for analysing likely long-term
impacts.
The
report also highlighted a number of factors like timely tidal variations and
decision to ban tanker traffic in the river that minimised the penetration of
the oil into the Sundarbans ecosystem.
It,
however, observed that the oil spill accident must be considered seriously as
it occurred in a wildlife sanctuary and world heritage site – treasured for its
unique biodiversity.
The
report found that an estimated 3-50 metric tonnes of oiled vegetation and other
debris remain in the temporary storage structures to the communities. This will
begin to decompose, pose a health hazard to local communities and remain a
source of potential re-oiling of the area if the storage fails.
It
stressed the need for accelerating efforts to quickly and safely dispose of all
solid oiled waste, and develop and implement a comprehensive management plan to
make sure the waste does not re-contaminate the environment.
The
Government-UN Joint Sundarbans Oil Spill Response Mission put forward 10
recommendations to address the impacts of oil spill on the environment and
affected communities of the Sundarbans and asked the Ministry of Environment
and Forests to develop an action plan to implement the recommendations.
On
December 31, 2014, the preliminary findings of the joint team of Government-UN
Mission were revealed at a function in the capital recommending halting the
plying of water vessels through the Sundarbans to avert further environmental
disasters.
The
GoB-UN expert team observed that environmental emergencies like oil spills and
industrial accidents represent a particular type of emergency and demand a
specific approach.
The
team had left for the Sundabans on December 22 and returned on December 28. The
main objective of the team was to support the government in containing the
spillage and clean-up; and assessing the situation and develop an action plan
for a phased response and recovery.
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