Shamim Jahangir
The government is going to prepare a law for compensation of the affected people at coalmine projects.
“The Government is thinking to compensate the affected people at coalmine areas. For this, the government is going to prepare a law styled ‘Compensation Act’,” Adviser to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Energy, Power and Mineral Resources Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi yesterday said at a meeting with the affected people of Barapukuria coalmine project in Dinajpur yesterday. “The law will prepare with the consent of stakeholders as well as experts,” he said.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Shamsul Alam Tuku said that the government would continue the coalmining at Barapukuria with the assistance of the local people.
“It would need to continue coal lifting for national development as well as local employment generation here,” he said adding, “The people couldn’t deprive in this regard.”
State Minister for Forest and Environment Mostafizur Rahman said that the government was aware about the environment while lifting coal.
Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi and two other state ministers visited the Barapukuria coalmine project following the increasing demand to compensate the affected people of the areas. Four organisations including the Life and Resources Protect Committee, Environment Protect Committee, Labour Protection Committee and the Oil-Gas-Mineral Resources and Power-Port Protection National Committee worked for protecting right of the locals in this area.
Robiul Islam, Convenor of the Labour of Barapukuria yesterday placed four-points of demand including ensuring permanent of labourers at Barapukuria coalmine, due wages for labour, recruiting expert local labour at coalmine and ensuring workplace safety.
Courtesy: nation.ittefaq.com
