These three coal-based power plants transport fuel by open ships via waterways. The waste discharged from the plants pollutes the environment and ecosystems. The biodiversity of the Payra, Andharmanik, Rabnabad, Bishkhali, and Baleshwar rivers is under threat. Fish production in these rivers has decreased. Meanwhile, the only lab at the Barisal Environmental Department for testing water quality has been closed for nearly five years. Without quality tests, millions of people are using river water.

Coastal residents in Patuakhali's Kalapara and Barguna's Taltali are concerned about the environmental pollution caused by the transport of coal and waste from the thermal power plants. Environmentalists warn that releasing carbon dioxide, toxic sulfur, lead, and heavy metals from coal creates severe health risks in the surrounding areas. The biodiversity of rivers like Andharmanik, Payra, Rabnabad, Bishkhali, and Baleshwar in Patuakhali and Barguna is at risk. These rivers no longer have native fish species, including hilsa. This has caused severe problems for thousands of fishing families, forcing them to switch professions.

Experts say hilsa is very sensitive to pollution. If, for any reason, mother hilsa cannot find a suitable environment to spawn in this region, future generations will never return to lay eggs here. This could lead to the extinction of hilsa in the area. Additionally, the Andharmanik River, a hilsa sanctuary, no longer has many other fish species.

Arifur Rahman, the coordinator of Waterkeepers Bangladesh for Amtali and Taltali upazilas, said, "Since the power plants were built, coal has been transported through the Payra River by ships. This is not a commercial route, so the ships often cut the fishermen's nets. Fishermen are losing their livelihoods and becoming destitute. Since the power plants were established, fish production in the region's rivers has significantly decreased. Many fishermen are being forced to change professions."

Recently, a road was constructed across the Devpur Canal in the Champapur Union area for landfilling the 1,320 MW Superthermal Power Plant in Patuakhali (Ashuganj). A boundary wall is being built on the Hafis Pader Canal. Many small canals and water bodies have been filled in.

Experts say that most of the land acquired for these projects was once used for triple-cropping. The areas of Dhankhali and Champapur Unions were famous for watermelon production. The watermelons grown here were sent to Dhaka and across the country. Additionally, rice, vegetables, and other crops were grown in the three seasons: Aus, Aman, and Boro. Due to acquiring this agricultural land for the projects, the amount of farmland in Kalapara has drastically reduced. Seasonal agricultural workers have lost jobs, and agricultural diversity and production have decreased.

Shubhankar Chakraborty, coordinator of the Barisal Division Environment and Public Safety Forum, said, "The mega projects in Kalapara are expected to cause significant damage to hilsa breeding and the region's wildlife. The 239-year-old Choyanipara settlement of the indigenous Rakhine community has been destroyed."

Mutasim Billah, assistant professor of the Department of Archaeology at Comilla University, said, "These power plants may seem highly advanced from the outside. But upon closer observation, it is clear that they cause environmental problems and various health risks."

Professor Dr. Saiful Islam from the Department of Soil Science at Patuakhali University of Science and Technology said, "Burning coal releases sulfur dioxide or carbon dioxide. These gases need to be removed carefully. If not, the surrounding water, soil, and environment will be damaged."

Professor Dr. Md Nurul Amin, Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Science and Disaster Management at Patuakhali University of Science and Technology, said, "The Payra Thermal Power Plant in Kalapara and the Taltali Thermal Power Plant in Barisal are in ecologically sensitive areas. Such plants should not have been constructed in these locations. A severe environmental disaster will occur within a 14-kilometer radius of the plants. In particular, sulfur emissions from coal combustion will be extremely harmful to the environment. There is a possibility that the biodiversity and forests of the Tengragiri forest, known as the second Sundarbans, will be destroyed. Noise pollution from the coal-based thermal plants will make finding birds in the area impossible. Changes in the weather will also occur."

Shah Abdul Hasib, the supervising engineer of the Payra Thermal Power Plant, claimed that the environmental impact is not significant. He said, "The Department of Environment regularly monitors the power plant. 99 percent of the ash is regularly removed from the plant. Additionally, 93-94 percent of the sulfur is also removed."

Although it is claimed that pollution can be prevented using Ultra Super Critical technology, many researchers believe it can only reduce pollution by a maximum of 10 percent.

Moreover, there are no initiatives to ensure safe drinking water for the large population amidst ongoing river pollution. Although a lab was nominally set up at the Barisal Department of Environment's divisional office, the equipment brought for the lab has been damaged while still in its packaging. Due to the lack of water quality testing, the biodiversity of the rivers flowing through the coastal areas of Patuakhali's Andharmanik, Payra, Rabnabad, and Barisal's Bishkhali, Payra, Baleshwar, and other rivers like Meghna, Kalabadar, Tentulia, Kirtankhola, Haringhata, Ilisha, Aarialkha, Payra, Rabnabad, Agunmukha, Burishwar, Galachipa, Baleshwari, Jayanti, Bishkhali, Kocha, Karkhana, Sandhya, Sugandha, Nayabhangli, and Shahbazpur Channel are under threat.

According to the Barisal Department of Environment sources, the first lab was set up in the Barisal division office in 2010. However, after moving to a new office in Nothullabad in 2020, issues arose, and since then, the lab's normal operations have been suspended. Senior Chemist of the Barisal Department of Environment Golam Kibria said, "We are unable to test the water parameters due to the lack of equipment. I hope this issue will be resolved soon."

Muhammad Mujahidul Islam, director of the Barisal Department of Environment, said, "The lab has been closed for a long time due to damaged water quality testing equipment. We have informed the higher authorities about the issue. We will reopen the lab and test the water quality at various points in the Barisal division as soon as the equipment arrives."