Artificial mangrove forest in the offing near Rampal power plant

Bangladesh India Friendship Power Company (Pvt) Ltd (BIFPCL), which is carrying out the installation of a much-talked-about coal-powered power plant at Rampal near the Sundarbans, has taken a move to create an artificial mangrove forest adjacent to the project.

BIFPCL has already signed a deal with the Bagerhat Social Forest Division to make the artificial Sundarbans by planting trees like Sundari, Keora, Goran, Gewa, Bain, and Nipa Palm, on its acquired 420 acres of low-lying land in the project area interconnected with small tidal rivers, creeks and canals. 

As part of the deal, the Social Forest Division will also create a green belt by planting local varieties of tree such as Coconut, Betelnut, Banyan, Jarul, Hijal, Tamal, Krishnachura, Karai and Mahogany on the high land of the power plant as a protection for local people from natural disasters, reports UNB. 

Forest experts said if an artificial mangrove forest is made in low-lying areas with mangrove species, it may help reduce a little bit of bad impact of the power plant on the Sundarbans' flora and fauna. 

Green activists, however, voiced doubt whether an artificial mangrove forest can be created and its effectiveness to save the environment in the area. 

Contacted, M Saidul Islam, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Social Forest Division, Bagerhat, said they signed a deal with BIFPCL on January 24 at Ban Bhaban (Forest Building) in the capital's Agargaon to create the artificial Sundarbans and the green belt in the power plant area. 

He said they have already started working on it as the BIFPCL handed them over its 420 acres of acquired land. "We'll implement the project at a cost of Tk 79.3 million ." 

As per the agreement, Saidul said they will plant saplings until 2020 and then preserve and take care of those until 2023. "Two mini nurseries will be set up there. We'll plant each mangrove sapling keeping a distance of three feet while that of local species 6-20 feet. 

He said an eco-tourism and an amusement park will also be set up there to attract local and foreign tourists. 

Besides, Saidul said, different attractive flower saplings will also be planted on two sides of the roads of the power plant. 

He said the artificial mangrove forest will help people in the coastal areas protect them from storms and tidal surges. "Once the mangrove forest is created, it'll be a good place for conserving biodiversity as wild animals and birds will find it as their safe habitat. 

Prof Mahmud Hossain of Khulna University's Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline said it will be possible to create the artificial mangrove forest in the low-lying areas near the power plant by properly planting the saplings of the species. 

He said once such a forest is created, it will be a good centre for conducting research on the mangrove forest. 

Asked whether the coal-fired power plant will harm the Sundarbans, he said any development activities affect the nature and the environment of it surrounding areas. "A systematic research is needed to be carried out to assess the probable achievements and losses if the power plant is installed." 

He, however, thinks that the artificial mangrove forest may lessen the bad effect of the coal-fired power plant on the Sundarbans. 

Contacted, Professor Anu Muhammad, member secretary of National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, said it may not be possible by human being to create a mangrove forest like the Sundarbans. 

President of Save the Sundarbans Foundation Sheikh Faridul Islam said, "I'm not sure whether any artificial mangrove forest can help reduce the bad impact of the power plant on the environment." 

BIFPCL has been implementing the power plant by acquiring 834 acres of land at Rampal, 14 km away from the Sundarbans, with a target to produce 1320 megawatts of power by 2021.