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CYCLONE MIDHILI

30 vessels wash ashore in Patenga
Palli Bidyut at odds with forest department
PHOTO: RAJIB RAIHAN
At least 30 vessels ran aground in different areas on Patenga seashore during Cyclone Midhili last Friday. The MV Rasheda Akter was the most affected one and needed towing down after it got stuck at a high level of the stone embankment and could not be steered back into the water so far during high tide.
POWER LINE THROUGH RESERVE FOREST
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s project to ensure 100 percent electrification is not being possible to implement in this upazila due to the forest department’s obstruction,” mentioned the lawmaker in his letter.
SIFAYET ULLAH
The Rural Electrification Board (Palli Bidyut) and the forest department are at loggerheads over connecting power cables through a forest reserve in Chattogram’s Fatikchhari upazila.
The old forest reserve, at Jungle Dantmara mouza under Narayanhat range of Chattogram North Forest Division, is home to over 95 species of trees and animals, according to forest department data.
The REB has been trying to set up several power lines through the 998-acre reserve forest.
Requesting approval to this end, Chattogram-2 lawmaker Syed Najibul Bashar Maizbhandari sent a demi official (DO) letter to the environment minister last June.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s project to ensure 100 percent electrification is not being possible to implement in this upazila due to the forest department’s obstruction,” mentioned the lawmaker in his letter.
The ministry then sent a letter to Chattogram North divisional forest officer on October 10, seeking field opinion on this matter.
However, no structure can be set up in a reserve forest under the existing Forest Act 1927.
Besides, the National Forest Policy 1994 prohibits any development projects within a forest, except when permitted by the prime minister.
Asked why he had sent a letter to take power lines through the reserved forest, Najibul Bashar Maizbhandari said, “Otherwise, we can’t ensure 100 percent electrification for the residents of this area. Many people here still don’t have power connection.”
“So, I have requested the forest and environment minister’s permission,” he added.
This correspondent recently visited the area and observed that REB is already preparing to connect power lines through the forest, with some electric poles stacked there.
Mohammed Forkan, a local, said, “Palli Bidyut has already surveyed the area and we heard that they will start the work soon.”
Contacted, Mohammed Sarwar Jahan, general manager of the REB (Chattogram-2), said, “We planned to build a power line in view of the demand of the customers.”
“However, we will not construct the line through the forest without permission from the authorities concerned,” he added.
Thousands of trees would be felled if the power line were connected through the forest, and this has become a concern for forest officials, according to sources.
“We have verbally informed the authorities concerned that power lines cannot be taken through reserved forests,” said Narayanhat forest ranger Ilishur Rahman.
“We will take action as per existing laws if anyone wants to build infrastructure in forest reserves,” he added.
Meanwhile, environmental experts said power lines would endanger the fauna.
“Wildlife, especially birds and monkeys, will die if they come in contact with electrical wires, endangering the forest’s fauna and causing irreparable damage to biodiversity,” said Mohammad Kamal Hossain, former professor of Institute of Forestry and Environmental Science at Chittagong University.
DWAIPAYAN BARUA
At least 30 lighter vessels ran aground in different areas on Patenga seashore during Cyclone Midhili last Friday. However, no casualties were reported in the incident.
Most of the vessels washed ashore after being caught in the high tides and heavy winds, as their masters failed to estimate the cyclone’s impact and did not shift those toward safer locations.
More than 400 empty vessels opted to stay near the Charpara coast, where those usually remain anchored before going to Chattogram Port’s outer anchorage for loading and unloading cargo.
Workers later managed to steer around 20 of the affected vessels back in the waters during high tides by Sunday, while at least 10 partly damaged vessels were still stuck at the sandy beach till the filing of this report on Monday afternoon.
The MV Rasheda Akter was the most affected one and needed towing down after it got stuck at a high level of the stone embankment and could not be steered back into the water so far during high tide.
Visiting the coast on Monday, the vessel’s master Mokhlesur Rahman was seen supervising workers trying to drag its anchor toward the sea.
The sea wasn’t too rough early on Friday, and most of the vessels’ masters, including him, thought the cyclone’s impact wouldn’t be significant as the weather forecast stated the storm would cross through Mongla and Payra regions, said Mokhlesur.
However, the weather became rough after Friday noon, and our vessel was washed into the stony embankment around 2:30pm, he added.
Bangladesh Lighter Vessel Workers Union vice president Nabi Alam said after cautionary signal-6 was announced around 9:00am on Friday, Chittagong Port Authority started shifting ocean-bound vessels from jetties to deeper sea and lighter vessels to inner harbour towards the upstream of Karnaphuli river.
They also stopped allowing entry of small vessels or boats to the port channel from the sea, leaving the vessels outside the channel with no option other than remaining near Patenga shore.
The vessels should have been shifted to safer areas immediately after cautionary signal-3 was announced a day earlier, said a senior CPA official.
During a recent visit, it was seen that the REB is already preparing to connect power lines through the forest, with some electric poles set up there.
More than 400 empty vessels opted to stay near the Charpara coast, where those usually remain anchored before going to Chattogram Port’s outer anchorage for loading and unloading cargo.