Indian activists urge Modi to scrap Rampal project

A coalition of groups in India wrote to Indian prime minister Narendra Modi demanding that the proposed coal-fired power plant at Rampal in Bangladesh be scrapped due to its potential to cause ‘irreparable damage’ to the Sunderbans.
The coalition of groups including All India Union of Forest Working People and National Alliance of Peoples Movements wrote to Modi claiming that the project would adversely affect India as well, reported Indian state-owned news agency Press Trust of India from New Delhi. 
‘40 per cent of the Sunderbans is in India and any damage to that will have 
devastating impact on thousands of fish workers and forest dwellers depending on it, apart from the damage to the natural protection from natural calamities like tsunami and cyclones,’ the coalition said.
The project is partly owned by National Thermal Power Corporation of India, financed by Indian ExIm Bank. Indian companies Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited and PricewaterhouseCoopers Private Limited have been contracted for supplying equipment and long term coal sourcing. 
‘Hence India’s share in this project is significant,’ the coalition added.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Madhuresh Kumar of National Alliance of Peoples Movements alleged that activists in Bangladesh, who were opposing the project, were are being ‘threatened.’
The coalition of groups in India that also includes Narmada Bachao Andolan, Greenpeace India, Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha, National Hawker Federation, Focus on the Global South, All India Forum of Forest Movements, Environment Support Group and Indigenous Perspectives condemned univocally death threats to Anu Muhammad, the member-secretary of National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports in Bangladesh.
They urge the Indian prime minister to request the Bangladesh government to ensure the safety of political activists.
In March, anti-Rampal protesters in Bangladesh held a 250-km Long March against the power plant, for which a deal was signed between the two countries in 2010.
The power plant is located 14km upstream of the Sunderbans Reserve Forest, a world heritage site declared by UNESCO.
The coalition of groups urged the Indian prime minister to look at the colossal damage this project would cause to people and environment in India and Bangladesh and withdraw India’s support to the project. 

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net