Fresh EIA urged before executing Rampal power plant

The Sunderbans Rokhkha Jatiya Committee on Saturday urged the government to scrap Rampal Power Plant and Orion Power Plant projects to save the Sunderbans.
The organisation made the demand in a press conference on ‘Citizens call to government and United Nations to protect Sunderbans’ at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity in the capital on the occasion of Sunderbans Day.
The Jatiya Committee also demanded for forming a UN-led committee comprising of scientists to conduct a new Environment Impact Assessment.
They also demanded that the plan for constructing the two power plants near the forest be suspended until completion of a fresh EIA under the new UN-led committee.
Addressing the press conference, the committee convener Sultana Kamal said the nation needs power but not at the cost of the Sunderbans.
Expressing her concern, she said such projects with the help of the government, were pushing the Sunderbans toward the verge of destruction.
The committee member secretary, Md Abdul Matin, referring to different researches and studies, said it is now scientifically established that if the Rampal power plant is constructed near the Sunderbans, the biodiversity of the mangrove forest would face severe threat.
‘That is why,’ he said, ‘such a project cannot be accepted.’
Energy expert Professor M Shamsul Alam said the forest saves the people from various natural calamities, such as, cyclones, and for that reason, the forest should be conserved.
Addressing the press conference Transparency International Bangladesh executive director Iftekharuzzaman said Bangladesh would be the worst victim of climate change.
‘It would be very embarrassing for us if we become a polluting country by constructing coal-based power plants near the Sunderbans.’

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