The Rural Electrification Board plans to install 457 kilometres of power lines through forests in eight districts, a move vehemently opposed by the forest department. 

The department fears it will not only have a negative impact on the forest biodiversity but also help illegal occupants get power connections and thus encourage further grabbing of woodlands. 

The REB, tasked with electrification in rural areas, has been trying to set up power lines through six reserve forests and 10 social forestry plantations in 24 upazilas of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Mymensingh, Gazipur, Khulna and Satkhira.  

It has reportedly completed “100 percent electrification” of 341 out of the 491 upazilas but yet to do so in the rest, as the installation of power lines through the forests had to be suspended two years back in the face of the department’s opposition. 

While the REB is mandated to ensure that all the rural households have access to electricity fulfilling the government’s Vision-2021, the forest department cites the UN-set Sustainable Development Goals, one of which aims at preserving biodiversity of forest.

According to the Forest Act-1927, no structure can be set up in a reserve forest, while the National Forest Policy-1994 prohibits any development projects within a forest, except when it is permitted by the prime minister. 

Besides, a Cabinet Division circular in 2017 asked all the government organisations to have the forest department’s clearance for projects that trespass on forests. 

In an inter-ministry meeting in June last year, the power, energy and mineral resources ministry asked for the forest department’s help in electrifying rural areas to fulfil the Vision 2021. 

The forest officials, on the other hand, said wildlife would be in danger because of the power lines, according to sources. 

The energy ministry also urged the forest department to withdraw two cases filed against REB officials in Gazipur and Satkhira over the move to set up power lines through woodlands.

The cases were filed three years ago on the allegations of encroaching upon forestland, razing trees and harming the forest.  The forest officials argued that REB could have sought the forest department clearance, which was made mandatory by a government gazette.

Also in that meeting, the REB wanted back the goods seized by the forest officials during a move to install the power lines.

‘THINGS UPSIDE DOWN’

If the lines go through the forests, it will have a devastating impact on the ecosystem as well as wildlife, said Prof Kamal Hossen of Institute of Forest and Environmental Science, Chattogram University. 

Existing laws, gazette, forest policy and commitment to global forums by the government are in favour of forests but in practice things are upside down, he added.  

“Now every developed country assesses the service value reaped from forest. The service of the ecosystem is far bigger than the benefit we will get from electricity. If we take into consideration the soil and water a forest holds back, the resources, biodiversity and the extent of carbon it absorbs, the monetary value will go far beyond the value of electricity.” 

To achieve the goal of 100 percent electrification, he said, the government can opt for an alternative way by allowing REB to install solar panel. 

Prof M Shamsul Alam, energy adviser of Consumer Association of Bangladesh, told The Daily Star that there are many ways to bypass the ecologically sensitive areas such as reserve forests. 

“The REB’s that they need to trespass on reserve forests for 100 percent electrification is quite unacceptable. Alternatives like captive generator, off-grid electrification or solar power could easily be chosen instead of grid line,” he said. 

Forest and environment should not be preyed upon when there are alternatives, he added.

ILLEGAL OCCUPANCY

Top forest department officials, preferring anonymity, said they fear that illegal occupants in the reserve forests would be encouraged to stay there if they get power lines and the forest woodlands be exposed to more encroachment.

Of the six reserve forests that are in the REB plan, four are in Chattogram and one each in Gazipur and Moulvibazar.   

According to documents obtained by The Daily Star, at least 15,000 encroachers live inside the four forests in Chattogram -- Chunoti, Ramgor-Sitakunda, Fasikhali and Jilonja. 

The exact figures in other districts could not be known but sources say around two lakh people might be living illegally inside the reserve and protected forests in the eight districts. 

In the face of the forest department’s reservation, the inter-ministry meeting decided to verify the national identity cards to provide connection to those who are living within the periphery of forest areas. 

“Those who are living illegally inside the forests won’t be able to show forest areas as their permanent addresses. So, they won’t be allowed to have power connection,” read the meeting minutes. 

‘MINIMUM DAMAGE’

Contacted, Md Billal Hossain, additional secretary of the forest, environment and climate change ministry, said they received a letter from the REB in April about the installation of power lines in woodlands. 

The ministry then wrote to the forest department to assess how much damage the lines might inflict on the forests.  

“We will of course suggest REB find some alternative ways as we made commitments to various international forums to maintain and expand forestland,” he said.  

“If we finally have to issue clearance, we will give it on condition that the damage is kept at minimum level. Otherwise, they will have to go for alternative ways.” 

On the other hand, REB Chairman Maj Gen (retd) Moin Uddin said 341 upazilas have been brought under “100 percent electrification”, and the prime minister inaugurated connections in 211 upazilas so far. 

“In some areas, we are facing reservations from the forest department. We are considering their concerns too. We held meetings thrice with the forest department,” he told The Daily Star recently. 

“If we install the lines through forests, we will try to keep the damage at minimum level. If necessary, we will go for an expensive model like insulated cables to minimise the threats to forest.”