Gas pipeline thru' National Park?

Few years back, the government declared the 2500-hectare Lawachhera Reserve Forest a 'National Park' to preserve its flora and fauna, ensure proper unitilastion of forest resources and make the local people environment conscious. Some species of animals have been freed in the park.

Local people this correspondent talked to, who witnessed the devastation from Magurchhera explosion in 1996, said they will resist any such move to preserve the environment in the area.

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If the proposed pipeline is laid, one of the largest reserve forests in the country will be "completely destroyed and environment in the whole region will come under serious threat", they said.

The Magurchhera gas well in Komolgonj upazila in Moulvibazar district, adjacent to Lawachhera Reserve Forest, was handed over to Unical to explore gas.

Unocal has started gas exploration at Magurchhara. The company has requested the Forest Department to allow laying of a gas pipe line through the Reserve Forest to connect Kalapur gas field with Magurchhara. It has specified that it needs 33 feet wide and 2.70 kilometre long space in the Lawachhera Forest to lay the pipeline.

The 1996 explosion in Magurchhera during exploration by another US company Occidental caused damage to forest resources, tea gardens, roads and rail tracks and habitations worth over Tk 1000 crore, according to government estimate earlier.

The heat following the explosion completely burnt trees and plants on over 100 acres of land, dried up canals and made animals flee the area. Even after eight years of the incident, the damages are yet to be overcome. The government could not realise any compensation from the company.

Local forest official said a team from the Forest Department in Dhaka recently visited Lawachhera and conducted a study as regards the Unical proposal. The team included the Chief Conservator (Animal Preservation) of the Department.

"We have nothing to say as the decision will be taken by the top policymakers in the government", a local forest official said seeking anonymity.

Responding a question by this correspondent, he said, "So far we know they submitted the report to the ministry (Ministry of Forest and Environment)".

He expressed his ignorance about the content of the report. "Please contact with our head office at Dhaka", he said.

Asked about possible damage if the pipeline is laid, officials said there will be multifarious problems.

A huge number of trees will have to be felled. All natural canals will be closed or clogged, which will have a long term destructive effect. All animals will flee the area due to sound of machines during pipeline laying, they said.

Some residents in Kamalganj said the pipeline proposal through the forest has created resentment among local people. They said they will resist the move.