Environment and Forests Minister Anwar Hussain Manju has said setting up Rampal power plant is the right decision as it will meet the country’s increasing demand for electricity.
He also said the plant would not harm the ecosystem of the Sundarbans as it is located 14 kilometres from the forest and the technology adopted for the plant would ensure environmental safety.
Despite oppositions from different quarters, including environmental activists, the government has moved forward with the plan of establishing the 1320MW coal-fired power plant at Rampal area which is adjacent to the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest.
The minister, while addressing a discussion on Bangladesh-India Sundarban Region Cooperation Initiative organised by Policy Research Institute at its conference room yesterday, said the people having anti-Indian sentiments are opposing Rampal plant. “The government has plans to set up the plant for the development of the country.”
At present, the country produces 6,350MW electricity a day against the peak demand of 7,000 MW. The government has set a target to achieve 24,000MW electricity production by 2021.
The plant is a joint collaboration of Bangladesh Power Development Board and National Thermal Power Corporation of India. To set it up, the Bangladesh government has already acquired 1,834 acres of private land.
Earlier, several environmental organisations, including Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, urged the government to relocate the proposed plant on the grounds that the site of the facility is just 10 kilometres from the Sundarbans.
According to rules regarding the protection of Ecologically Critical Area, setting up an industry that produces toxic matters should be banned within 10 kilometres of such zones.
Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon’s General Secretary Dr Abdul Matin said Rampal plant would destroy the ecological balance of the Sundarbans and its adjacent areas as the facility would produce huge amounts of waste materials that are extremely harmful for the environment.
He also said the thermal plant would pose a big threat to the dolphins in the nearby Pashur River as the facility would release hot water.