The Sundarbans spill

India, Bangladesh need joint mitigating strategy

The collision of an oil tanker with a cargo vessel in the part of the Sundarbans that falls within Bangladesh has created an oil spill that is threatening the sensitive ecology of the area. Particularly at risk are the Irrawaddy and Ganga dolphins, the area being globally the most important home of the species. What makes the accident serious is that it has occurred near the Chadpai wildlife sanctuary, one of the two set up by Bangladesh in 2011, to protect diverse species ranging from the tiger, to crab and small fish. The entire Sundarbans area of 10,000 sq km is one of Unesco's 32 World Heritage Sites, with its mangrove forests acting as a barrier against cyclones and sea erosion. The spill is reported to be 60 km long and could cause long-term ecological damage.

Oil spills can and do occur even if they should not, but the ability to tackle this particular one is impeded by various circumstances. A man-made international border runs through the natural ecological region of the Sundarbans, which is as underdeveloped as it is difficult to access. For their part, as the accident has occurred in Bangladesh and the spill has not entered India on first reckoning, the Indian authorities are waiting for request for help from Bangladesh. But the point is that a lot of damage can be done before all the resources available with both the countries can be deployed to tackle a man-made disaster that can have serious consequences for the region rich in flora and fauna. The Bangladesh government has sent an initial 10,000 litres of oil dispersants to break up the spill, but it is not known whether this is enough or not.

This accident has highlighted several shortcomings in the institutional arrangement - actually none exists - to tackle an event like this, which can turn into a disaster in an ecologically rich but sensitive region needing the highest protection but suffering from its natural footprint stretching across two countries. Unfortunately, there is no bilateral agreement to tackle such crises. The result is that quick mobilisation of adequate resources and their scientific deployment are impeded. It is vital to have such an agreement not just to tackle disasters but also to ensure the best protection of the entire Sundarbans even in normal times. After all, tigers, dolphins and fish do not take care to remain within particular national boundaries. Another issue that needs immediate attention is what safety precautions govern maritime traffic in the area. Do enough exist? If not, then they need to be defined immediately and monitored by the two countries. While this is in the nature of wartime manuals, to be used when needed, the two governments, while they talk to each other, should also evolve common norms to regulate tourism which too can take an ecological toll.