The proposal to build a coal-based power plant in Rampal is a misguided endeavour, which poses a serious threat to one of the most important natural heritages of the country, and less damaging alternatives should be explored to meet the nation’s power needs.
The Sundarbans is a unique site of biodiversity and a shield against natural disaster. Given the level of vulnerability that Bangladesh already faces with respect to natural disasters, it is foolish to exacerbate the risk.
The waste produced by coal power plants contain hazardous elements such as arsenic and mercury which can contaminate ground water, and cause serious health damages to the residents of nearby areas, not to mention fish and wildlife.
The government so far has not made a convincing case that technological interventions will fully address these risks.
As the largest block of mangrove forest in the world, the Sundarbans has been designated as a Unesco World Heritage site. Moreover, it is one of the few genuine tourist attractions that Bangladesh has to offer. Therefore, we should make efforts to preserve it, not only for the sake of the future generations but also for our financial benefit.
The energy need of the country is real but there are other ways to address this issue. While we understand the need for coal power plants in the long-run, there are other sites in Bangladesh more suitable for this kind of an undertaking.
