PM's Call to Anti-Rampal Campaigners
Nat'l Committee leaders to visit plant site
But demand govt don't resist them
Responding to the prime minister's call, the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports yesterday said its leaders would visit the under-construction Rampal power plant near the Sundarbans again but the government has to ensure they do not face any resistance from law enforcers during the visit.
The National Committee is campaigning against the coal-fired plant considering its possible adverse impacts on the ecologically sensitive mangrove forest.
During a programme in Chittagong on Saturday, Sheikh Hasina reiterated that the plant “would cause no environmental damage” as it was located 14km off the outer boundary of the Sundarbans. She also urged the campaigners to visit the site.
Addressing the critics, she said, “They are campaigning sitting in the capital... they never visited Rampal.”
However, in the statement, the National Committee leaders said they visited Rampal area several times and informed the government of the dangers of the power plant, but the government did not pay heed to their words.
The government did not change its decision even after the warning given by a specialist team of Unesco who also visited the Rampal area, said the statement.
The Committee urged the prime minister to consider the public demand as well as their logic to save the Sundarbans.
Bangladesh and India have signed a deal to set up the 1,320MW plant in Rampal upazila of Bagerhat, amid long-running protests form environmental activists.