Protesters demand the
cancellation of a proposed coal-based power plant at Rampal in Bagerhat and
shipbreaking yards at Patharghata in Barguna
Hundreds of protesters linked
hands and formed a human chain in Barisal city to demand the cancellation of a
proposed coal based power plant at Rampal in Bagerhat and shipbreaking yards at
Patharghata in Barguna.
The protesters said that the
projects would destroy the environment of the coastal districts.
Samajtantrik Chhatra Front and
Biggyan Mancha Andolan jointly organized the demonstrations that began with a
protest march from Amrita Lal Dey College and ended with a rally in front of
the Ashwini Kumar Hall.
Organization leaders who
addressed the rally included Mr Riazul Huq Khan, Mr Imran Habib Rumman, Ms
Manisha Chakraborty, Mr Prodipta Saha, Mr Badruddoza Soikat and Mr Bidhuvushan
Nath.
The
speakers said that the site of the proposed coal fired power plant was situated
only 9km from the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest and a UNESCO
world heritage site. The Patharghata coast is also nearby.
The construction of the 1,320mW
thermal power plant at Rampal is a JV between Bangladesh Power Development
Board and the Indian National Thermal Power Corporation.
The speakers said that India was
trying to protect the Sundarbans on its side, but planned to build a
potentially environment damaging power plant close to the Bangladesh part of
the mangroves.
About the ship breaking industry,
the protesters alleged that whilst most countries of the world prohibited the
use of their coasts for shipbreaking, some greedy, profit mongering businessmen
and corrupt political leaders were allowing it in Bangladesh.
The power plant and shipbreaking
projects would contaminate the land and pollute the air, which would affect the
lives of millions of inhabitants of the southern coastal region.
The said that “The proposed
projects would also seriously harm the bio-diversity, ecology, water
management, flora and fauna of the Sundarbans and the coastal areas.”
They alleged that the government
finalized the project sites without considering social and environmental
impacts and economic benefits for the region.
Source:
steel guru. 14 September 2012.
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