Pay heed to UNESCO`s concern over Rampal

THE UNESCO’s concern over the impact of Rampal coal-fired power project on the Sundarban remains high, as the government is adamant to build the power plant. The UN body last month sent a letter to the government to know what specific measures the government is planning to check the probable damage that may be caused by hot water and chemical discharge from the power plant. The UNESCO’s earlier request to the government to stop the plant closer to the mangrove forest; which is listed as one of the World Heritages to save it from extinction has gone unheeded. It’s warning of listing the Sundarbans as ‘endangered’ World Heritage if the government continues with the project also made no sense. So the global agency this time wanted to know from the government what measures it is going to put in place which will mitigate impacts on aquatic resources, ecology, biodiversity, and wildlife in and around the mangrove forest requesting the government again to relocate the project at a distance.

The 1320 MW coal-fired power plant; which is a joint venture project with India is a mega project but the people of the country are opposing to it because of its critical threat to the existence of the Sundarbans. Environmentalists and the international community are also opposed to the project at its present site asking the government to relocate it. In its reply the Bangladesh government is saying that it will install all state of the art equipment to keep the environmental damage at the minimum. But it remains quite difficult to people as to why the government is not receptive to people’s concerns from all levels while they also doubt the use of best technology in the plant. This is because India is shutting most of its coal-fired power plants as they are damaging the environment and polluting water there. Why Bangladesh should set up such a plant buying coal from India remains the big question.

Media report said the government will reply to UNESCO’s letter while the State Minister for power has said the construction of Rampal power plant will continue, as no decision has been taken yet to stop it. We would ask the government to pay heed to the local and global concerns to Rampal power plant at its present location. If the relocation of the plant site can militate people’s concern and yet the plant can be built, why the government is not flexible to such suggestion is not clearly understood. Why also India is not paying heed to local concern is yet another question when a new Sundarban can’t be created while such power plant is always possible.
We share the UNESCO’s concern as our own concern and ask the government to find a solution to the crisis steering agitation at all levels.