Overcrowding of people in St Martin's Island and mindless tourism are posing threat to environment of the coral island inTeknaf upazila

Six ships have been ferrying around 7,000 tourists a day from Teknaf to St Martin's Island for the last several weeks while 1500 more come by trawlers. The heavy rush is seriously disturbing the natural entity of the island, said an official at the local

office of the Department of Environment (DoE).

Failing to get accommodation in any of 23 hotels, motels and bungalows on the island, many tourists spend nights in the union parishad building and educational institutions, said St Martin's union parishad Chairman Feroz Ahmed Khan.

"Presence of a large number of tourists is adding to the crisis of underground water and garbage management and sewerage disposal problems. Bio diversity and their habitat

are also under threat," Aminul Haque, environment official at Teknaf, said.

1 {e said at least four of the six ships carrying tourists do not have bins and there is no proper system to remove garbage littered up by these ships after their departure. Tourists and ship staff often throw away huge amount of garbage into the sea and Naf River, polluting the water.

The government should intervene to control the number of ships and tourists, he said.

Some tourists take away items from the coast, add ing to the vulnerability of the island, said an official.

DoE sources said Teknaf upazila authorities earlier sent several letters to the author! ties of St Martin's bound ships requesting them to ensure proper management of gar bage but to no effect.

Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tofael Ahmed told this correspondent that different steps are being taken to protect bio diversity and very existence of the island. Drives will be conducted to control movement of tourists on the beach at night, stop making loud noise and prevent carrying excess tourists by theships

As the ships carry much more passengers than capacity many have to stand on the roof, deck or railing risking life, said several tourists.

Three of the ships even do not carry life jackets for safety, they alleged.

From December last year six ships -- Keari Sindabad, St Kutubdia, Eagle, Sea Truck, Rangabali and Riggs Cross -- are plying the route. Last year per head fare for about 30-kilometre sea journey from Teknaf to St Martin's was Tk 300 to 420 but it has been raised by 20 to 23 percent this year.

Manager of St Kutubdia, Russel Ahmed, however, said, "We are running the ships following rules. We do not do anything that damages environment. We have adequate number of life jackets and litter bins in our ship. Publicity is conducted on board the ship to make tourists aware about risks and environment."