Labelling the proposed coal power plants near the Sundarbans as “projects against national interests,” Prof Anu Muhammad, member secretary of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, has again urged the government to immediately stop implementing the initiatives.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune on the eve of staring a mass procession towards Rampal, the Jahangirnagar University teacher yesterday claimed that the Indian NTPC and Bangladeshi private company Orion, by implementing the hazardous coal-based projects were ignoring the warnings from local and international experts.
These projects would make the ecosystem of the mangroves forest more vulnerable whereas many people would lose their livelihood, he said, urging the countrymen to protest against the conspiracy of the vested interests.
The government, however, claims that the projects would not harm the Sundarbans, a Unesco World Heritage Site, as they would use advanced technology to cut emission of hazardous gases including carbon dioxide, fine particles and fly ash, and properly dispose the solid and liquid wastes.
Prof Anu alleged that the government was adamant to implement the joint venture project at Satmari Katakhali of Rampal for making profits.
He said that commercial and industrial activities had already begun in Rampal area centring these power plants. “Moreover, there are plans to establish an economic zone for India. The government has also approved large infrastructures like cement factories, shipyard and silo near the power plants.”
These activities would choke the Pashur River and canals, and the forest slowly, he said, alleging that the activists were barred by the law enforcement agencies from raising their voices against the power plants during the previous events.
Members of the national committee and other green groups would start their march towards the Sundarbans this morning demanding that the projects be scrapped immediately.
The procession will begin from the National Press Club at 10am. During the march, the activists are set to hold rallies at Jahangirnagar University of Savar, Manikganj, Faridpur, Magura, Jhenidah, Jessore, Noapara, Daulatpur and Khulna to raise public awareness against the projects. They will reach Rampal on Sunday.
The national committee earlier observed a long march from Dhaka to Rampal in September 2013, just a month before the prime minister inaugurated construction of the 1320MW power plant.
Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Ltd (BIFPCL), a joint venture of PDB and NTPC of India, is developing the Maitree Super Thermal Power Project at Rampal which will use imported coal. The plant would adopt super critical technology. India's state-run Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd or BHEL has won the deal to build the plant.
On the other hand, local firm Orion Group is building a 566MW power plant in Rampal area.
The national committee has long been opposing the coal plants saying that the projects would pose major threat on the biodiversity of the forest, water species and livelihood of the people who depend on the forest's resources.
In February, the National Committee to Protect Sundarbans demanded an environmental impact assessment for the Rampal plant by international independent experts under the supervision of the UN. They dubbed the government's EIA a distorted one and demanded that construction work of the two power plants is suspended.
According to the EIA, the project area is about 14km north-eastward of the Nalian Range of the Sundarbans and 4km away from the Ecologically Critical Area boundary. The project area has 95% arable land within a 10km radius and it will also affect fishing, cattle and birds and animals of the forest.
Prof Anu claimed that like the BNP, some Awami League leaders are also against the coal-based projects but they could not say this in public as it would go against the party's stance.
He said that the mass procession would create awareness among the people about the significance of the Sundarbans, one of the largest mangrove forests of the world.
He also mentioned about the concerns raised by the Unesco, the Ramsar and other local and international environment experts regarding the projects. A Unesco delegation of experts is likely to visit Bangladesh this month to learn about Dhaka’s initiatives to tackle the environmental impacts of the Rampal coal-fired power plant.
