Mozahidur Rahaman, Khulna Bureau
The Department of Environment (DoE) has ordered the closure of 24 resorts adjacent to the Sundarbans in Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira for allegedly operating without environmental clearance and violating Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) rules.
The resorts have been ordered to suspend operations, while some have been given 15 days and others 30 days to remove their structures. Failure to comply could lead to mobile court drives, disconnection of electricity, filing of regular cases and other legal action.
Of the 24 resorts, 18 are in Dacope of Khulna, two in Bagerhat and four in Satkhira.
On October 4, Md. Harun-or-Rashid, assistant director of the DoE’s Khulna District Office, sent letters to the owners of 18 resorts in Dhangmari, Kailashganj and Banishanta areas of Dacope upazila.
The 18 resorts are Aranyachhaya, Aranyabari, Keoraban, Mayaban, Gahan, The Forest Retreat, Nikunja Valley, La Silva Cottage, Bonbibi, Sundari, Irabati, Bonmali, Golokanan, Piyali, Mangrove, Jangalbari, Bonobash and Bonlata Eco Cottage.
Harun-or-Rashid said tourists’ food packets, plastic and polythene waste were being dumped at the resorts, while trees were being cut during construction, harming the environment and ecosystem of areas adjacent to the Sundarbans. He said the establishments also lacked environmental clearance and there was no provision under ECA rules for setting up such establishments in those areas.
Earlier, show-cause notices were issued to 10 establishments over allegations of constructing resorts without approval. Their applications for environmental clearance were rejected on September 30 for failing to submit the required documents. They were then ordered to shut down and remove their structures within 30 days.
Meanwhile, eight newly established resorts were instructed on September 30 to relocate to acceptable locations within seven days. As no visible steps were taken, they have now been ordered to suspend operations and remove their structures within 15 days.
According to the DoE, there are 18 resorts in the Khulna area, while the resort owners’ association claims there are 15. Harun-or-Rashid said the department had listed 18 establishments, including those already constructed and those under construction.
Zakeria Shawon, general secretary of the Resort Owners’ Association, said they had not received any letter from the DoE. “We are trying to reduce pressure on the forest and operate our businesses in accordance with the rules without carrying out any activities that harm the environment,” he said.
Khondkar Md. Fazlul Haque, director of the Khulna Divisional Office of the DoE, said, “No resort can be operated in an Ecologically Critical Area. Notices were issued to the authorities of the resorts in accordance with the law. As satisfactory responses were not received, orders were issued to suspend their operations.”
Experts said removing the structures alone would not be enough to protect the Sundarbans and called for a long-term plan for tourism management, protection of forest land, conservation of canals and water bodies, and participation of local communities.
Advocate Babul Howlader, coordinator of the Khulna district unit of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), said a coordinated plan was needed to protect forest land, carry out reforestation, conserve canals and involve local people.
Dr Nazia Hasan, professor of the Environmental Science Discipline at Khulna University, said water and soil pollution, plastic waste and increasing tourism pressure were putting the Sundarbans environment at risk. Loud music played by tourists also negatively affected wildlife and their natural movement, she said.
She stressed that regular monitoring was necessary after removing the structures to prevent re-encroachment. The Forest Department, local administration and law enforcement agencies should jointly monitor the areas adjacent to the Sundarbans, she added. #EK
