Govt urged to relocate Rampal plant

Two academicians have suggested that the government should shift the proposed coal-fired power plant 30 kilometres east to Arpangachhia in Barguna from Rampal to save the Sundarbans. 

“Arpangachhia appears to be the safest place for establishing the power plant,” said Prof Abdul Aziz, of the botany department of Dhaka University, yesterday at a discussion in the capital's Jatiya Press Club organised by the National Committee to Save Sundarbans.

Winds blowing in Arpangachhia beside the Buriswar river don't go towards the mangrove forest. Besides, the river is wider and gets fresh water discharged from the Meghna river.

“As a result, there will be no thermal pollution,” Prof Aziz said.

Coals can be carried through the Buriswar river to Arpangachhia since it is flowing outside the Sundarbans, said Prof Badrul Imam, of the geology department of DU.

An environmental impact assessment can be done to learn about the potential of the river as a route for carrying coals, he added.  

The National Committee to Save Sundarbans held the discussion to mark World Water Day.

Speakers there urged the government not to go ahead with the proposed Rampal power plant to save the Passur river that is the lifeline of the Sundarbans.

Green activists have been critical of the coal-fired plant, a Bangladesh-India joint venture, at Rampal, saying it will destroy the ecological system of the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest and a UNESCO declared World Heritage Site.

Sultana Kamal, convenor of the national committee, at yesterday's event said the government stuck to its decision about the project without even obtaining any scientific assessment.

“It is our moral duty to save the Sundarbans.”

Prof Aziz, who presented a keynote paper, said the Arpangachhia site is close to the coast and so the travel distance of coal-carrying vessels would be shorter in that case and water pollutants would be quickly washed away to the sea.

But if the government wants to continue with its present plan, it can set up a solar power plant at Rampal instead of a coal-fired one, said Prof Imam who also presented a keynote paper. 

Abdul Matin, general secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon and member secretary of the national committee, columnist Syed Abul Maksud, and noted economist Prof MM Akash also spoke at the event.