Avoid environmental odds of open pit mining

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THE NEW NATION on Friday reported that Petrobangla is going to carrying out a feasibility study on “Open pit mining” for coal extraction at Barapukuria. As controversy floated over the suitable method of coal extraction system on the Barapukuria Coal Mine, environment experts opposed to the open pit system have opined that at Barapukuria and Fulbari the bituminous coal layer lies 118m to 503m deep in the shape of boats and hence open pit mining at a level deeper than 100m is not economically feasible. The underground water pressure on the Dupi Tila formation is so heavy that consultants have suggested well and tunnel method for extraction. The government is set to resume the sale of coal at Barapukuria mine as the mine stopped production and consequently sales of coal stopped in May last year due to a technical fault in the underground production process.
The Barapukuria coal deposit lies in six layers between sandstone and mudstone, of which one layer is 36m thick. Officials said, at least 7 lakh tonnes of coal is needed to meet the domestic demand but the mine’s current stock is just 1.4 lakh tonnes. Moreover, half of the current stock is reserved for the 250MW Barapukuria Coal fired power plant. This bituminous coal has only 0.53 percent sulphur, so it is ideal for power generation. But the extraction method applied has some drawbacks; it does not sand-fill the empty chambers, as a result of which land subsidence can occur. Secondly, not more than 50 percent coal can be extracted by long tunnel method. To extract full amount of coal from the deposit, open pit mining is suggested which is otherwise hazardous and harmful to the environment. Government agencies namely the Institute of Water Management (IWM) favours open pit mining at Barapukuria. Several experts oppose the method on environmental grounds.
Environmental activists in the country suggest that economic viability, technical feasibility, social acceptability, and environmental impacts should be considered for taking any type of development project. Open pit mining at Barapukuria may look economically viable; but its land cost, excavation cost, dewatering cost, operation cost etc., may exceed the benefits achieved. IWM may find 344 million cubic meters of water dewatering per year possible by calculation, but it may not be possible in reality. For social acceptability, alternate livelihood and compensation have been not offered to the to-be-affected people.
We cannot ignore the multifarious environmental impacts of open pit mining, as there will be huge dewatering that may cause lowering of the groundwater layer. If the feasibly study is done properly and made open to the public, and if there remains no ambiguity; only then should the project be undertaken.
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