Adopt habitat-friendly coal mining

Phulbari residents will not oppose coal mining in the area if their habitat and livelihoods remain unaffected¸ said leaders of Phulbari Rakkha Committee yesterday.
"We shall have no objection if mining is done without affecting our habitat and livelihoods," said Khurshid Alam Moti, joint-convener of Phulbari Rakkha Committee, a body which is protesting open-pit mining at Phulbari in Dinajpur district.
"We urge the government to consider our expectations before taking any decision," he said.
Moti made the appeal after the screening of a documentary on Phulbari at a discussion in the city which was organised by the Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD).
Former chief adviser of a caretaker government Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman, Chief of Coal Policy Review Committee Prof Abul Matin Patwari, Advisory Editor of Amar Desh Ataus Samad, Prof Anu Muhammad of Jahangirnagar University and Prof Nurul Islam of Buet spoke on the occasion.
Prof Sakhawat Ali Khan, SEHD chairman and a teacher of mass communication and journalism department, chaired the programme.
"I don't think any government would be able to take any decision without considering the objections of people. I am sure the present or the next government will go forward considering the issue honestly," said Justice Rahman.
Prof Matin said open-pit mining could be taken on experimental basis.
"If it creates any environmental problems, we will be able to halt it," he added.
Anu Muhammad said the open-pit mining will destroy the cultivable land in the area.
Prof Sakhawat said all the factors especially human and social risks must be considered before taking any decision.
In August 2006, at least five people were killed during a rally protesting the plan of open-pit mining by Asia Energy Corporation (Bangladesh).
According to the company, extraction of coal through open-pit mining will require eviction of about 40000 people from 5900 hectares of land.