Two organisations yesterday protested the Department of Environment (DoE) approval to set up coal-based thermal power plants in Rampal upazila near the Sundarbans.
Save the Sundarban Foundation, and Bagerhat Development Society organised a press conference at Bagerhat Press Club in this regard.The speakers said who were supposed to protect the Sundarbans, had permitted the power plants.
Demanding an immediate halt to the move, they said they were not against any development but not costing the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest.
They also threatened to launch a tougher movement if their demand is not met.
Several writ petitions were filed with the High Court seeking a stop to the move.
Meanwhile, National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports has announced a long march from Dhaka for September 24 which is expected to reach Rampal on September 28.
In 2009, Bangladesh and India signed a deal to set up the two power plants in Shapmari and Katakhali, nine kilometres away from the Sundarbans.
A total of 1,834 acres of land has already been acquired for the power plants with a capacity of 1,320 megawatt electricity.
The project got Environmental Impact Assessment from the DoE recently and is expected to be inaugurated the next month.
-With The Daily Star input
