Govt to lay foundation stone Oct 22
Energy adviser to the prime minister Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury has said the government is determined to move ahead with the controversial 1320 MW coal-fired Rampal power plant project despite opposition from environmentalists and different political parties and lay its foundation stone on October 22. Rejecting an idea that neighbouring India has disallowed a similar project in their part of Sundarban on environmental ground, he said:
“This is our project within Bangladesh territory. We’ll move ahead with it. What India has done with their project, we don’t care.”
“Our people need power. We are committed to fulfilling their demands. The foundation stone of the 1,320-MW plant will be laid on October 22”, Chowdhury told reporters at a press conference held at Bidyut Bhaban in the capital.
Members of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas and Ports started a long march from Dhaka to the project site, in a bid to prevent the thermal plant from being set up there.
Replying to a query on the long march, Chowdhury said, “It is not an emotional issue. It should be considered on the basis of scientific views. Their criticisms are not based on information and technology. We have decided to set up the power plant on the basis of reality rather than emotion.”
Referring to the Barapukuria coal-based power plant, Chowdhury said the plant was installed during the regime of the BNP-led government without considering its environmental aspects.
The Rampal power plant will be installed 14-km away from the Sundarban, Chowdhury said, adding, “The furnace of the power plant will be 300-metre high and it will use coal with low sulphur content.”
He said it has not been finalised whether Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself would lay the foundation stone.
Meanwhile, the Dhaka-Sundarban long march of National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports reached Faridpur on Wednesday.
In an instant reaction to the government announcement of the energy adviser, the leaders said they would resist the move at any cost to save the Sundarban.
Buses, micro-buses and pick up vans with around 1,500 environmental activists reached Faridpur at about 5:00pm ignoring inclement weather.
They termed the agreement on setting up the coal-based power plant at Rampal ‘unequal and anti-national’ one saying that the Indian company would be much gainer from the project.
“The Sundarban protect people from natural disasters and we will not allow anyone to destroy it. The Sundarban will be destroyed if the coal-based power plant is set up at Rampal,” said Prof. Anu Muhammad, member secretary of the organisation.
The National Committee has been carrying out a struggle to protect the national existence and they must win the fight, he also said.
Engineer BD Rahmatullah, Workers Party leader Ragib Ahsan Munna, Shuvransu Chakravarti, Bazlur Rashid Firoj, Saiful Haque, Shahadat Hossain and Mosharraf Hossain Nanu, among others, addressed the rallies.
Road side rallies were held at Goalanda Bazar, Rajbari Azadi Ground and Faridpur Ambika Ground as the long march proceeded towards its destination.
The activists distributed leaflets and posters among the people and performed patriotic songs on their way.
Local activists erected a number of roadside gates in different areas from Manikganj to Faridpur welcoming the long marchers. The long marchers are scheduled to spend the night in Faridpur and start the journey to Jessore at 9:00am on Thursday.
The National Committee activists started their second day’s programme by bringing out a rally in Manikganj town where they stayed overnight.
The National Committee began its five-day long march towards the Sundarban, a World Heritage site and the largest mangrove forests, from the National Press Club on Tuesday morning to press home a seven-point demand, including scrapping of Rampal power plant project. The activists will complete their 400-kilometer journey reaching at Rampal on Saturday. The government in April signed a deal with an Indian company to install a coal-based thermal power plant at Rampal in Bagerhat, 14 kilometres from the Sundarban.
Leaders and activists of different political parties and social organisations have been taking part in the long march.
The organisations include-Udichi, Samogit, Charon, Sangskriti Mancha, Biborton, Green Voice, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, CPB, Basad, Ganosanghati Andolon, Basad Convention Preparatory Committee, Bangladesher Workers Party, Biplobi Workers Party, United Communist League, Ganotantrik Biplobi Party, Jatiya Ganofront, Ganotantrik Odhiker Rokhya Committee, Ganotantrik Majdur Party, Basad (Mahbub), Sammoyabadi Dal, Garments Sramik Oikya Forum, Sramojibi Sangha and different student organisations.
-With The Independent input
