As most of the works of Rampal power plant will be done by Indian companies, and it is likely to import coal from India, set up the power plant in India instead of Rampal, said Professor Anu Muhammad.
Professor Anu Muhammad, a teacher of economics at the Jahangirnagar University and member secretary of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports made the proposal while addressing a rally in front of the National Press club in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Advising that the power plant can also be built in any other place of the country, he said: “The plant will destroy the Sundarbans and thus Bangladesh will become unprotected. So, it is better to set up the power plant in an alternative place.”
The 1,320 megawatt power plant project will be constructed in a 50-50 partnership between Bangladesh and the NTPC, the Indian state-owned power generation company. Three agreements were signed in April regarding the project which could begin operations in 2017. There is allegation that the NTPC failed to set up similar thermal power plants in the Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states of India.
Professor Anu Muhammad also said we do not get 2000 MW electricity for ‘fault’ in system of generating electricity. We will get more than 1320 MW electricity if it is considered/repaired. He also proposed long term sources to generate electricity; e.g. solar, air and waste.
“We can purchase solar energy from India at Tk8 per unit which is 5.30 rupee per unit in India”, said Professor Anu Muhammad. India is building a 5,000MW solar power plant in Rajasthan.
He was also critical about the government for relaxing the conditions of Model Production-Sharing Contract (PSC) 2012 for the sake of international oil and gas exploration companies. Professor Anu Muhammad urged to utilise the sources in the Bay of Bengal.
Sheikh Mohammad Shahidullah, convener of the national committee, said the government is building the power plant for India’s sake.
Ruhin Hossain Prince, a central leader of CPB, claimed the government lied about touching the 10,000MW power generation milestone as load shedding was occurring in the city.
Speakers at the rally echoed Professor Anu Muhammad, saying there is no alternative to the Sundarbans but alternative places are available in the country. The power plant will immensely destroy the ecology as well as flora and fauna of the country’s main forest, they said.
The rally was also attended by the leaders and activists of two left political parties – Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD). The rally was followed by a procession.
