National Committee demands relocation of Rampal power plant to India
Leaders of the National Committee to Protect Oil-Gas, Port-Power and Mineral Resources on Wednesday demanded halting the construction of 1320 MW Rampal coal-fired power plant and relocating the project to somewhere in India.
Bangladesh and India is implementing the project at a location close to the world’s biggest mangrove forest Sundarbans under a joint venture agreement.
“Since most of the elements of the project will be coming from India and the project will be benefiting them most, it should be relocated to India,” said Prof Anu Mohammad, member secretary of the National Committee, while addressing at a rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club.
The rally was organised as part of the committee’s demonstration programme to protest against the move for implementing the Rampal project and the government’s campaign in its favour.
Terming the deal between Bangladesh and India on the project as unequal, the National Committee leader said this project will benefit India, not Bangladesh.
He said the people in Bangladesh are opposing the Rampal project for its location so close to Sundarbans forest, which is the heart of Bangladesh from environmental point of view. “We can’t allow coal-fired power plant in the vicinity of Sundarbans.”
Crticising the government for setting up quick-rental power plants in the country in the name of power generation, Anu Mohammad said such projects were set up for plundering public wealth. He demanded publication of the cost of power production at the quick rental power plants.
He also suggested repairing and overhauling the state-owned power plants to resolve the power crisis.
Convenor of the National Committee Engr Sheikh Muhammad Shahidullah said the people will never allow the government to destroy the Sundarbans.
He said that to protect the world heritage site, the national committee will announce tougher action programme.
The rally was also addressed, among others, by Committee members and leaders of different left leaning parties including Saiful Haque, Siddiqur Rahman, Ruhin Hossain Prince and Junayed Saki.
After the rally, the National Committee brought out a procession that paraded the Paltan and Press Club area.
– See more at: http://unbconnect.com/national-committee-demo/#&panel1-1
Source: UNB Connect
