Once operational, the Rampal coal-fired power plant would generate about 3.80 crore tonnes of ash in 60 years, damaging the biodiversity of the Sundarbans.
The ash may spread all over the Sundarbans and its adjacent areas during floods and cyclones, dealing a blow to aquatic life including fish in the mangrove forest.
These are the findings of a study conducted on probable pollution from ash of the power plant by US researcher Dennis Lemly. The findings were disclosed at a seminar organised by National Committee for the Protection of the Sundarbans at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity in the capital yesterday. Dennis joined the seminar from the US through Skype.
The committee chairperson Sultana Kamal said the power plant would leave a detrimental effect in the long run.
Prof Badrul Imam and Prof M Abul Bashar of Dhaka University, among others, spoke at the seminar moderated by green activist and member secretary of the committee Abdul Matin.
India’s state-owned National Thermal Power Corporation and Bangladesh Power Development Board are constructing the 1,320 megawatt plant on 1,834 acres of land, which is 14km north of Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, also a Unesco world heritage site.
Green groups have been opposing the power plant in Rampal of Bagerhat. The UN too urged Bangladesh to halt its construction near the Sundarbans, which acts as a natural barrier against cyclones.
The government, however, has been going ahead with the project, saying it was using the best technologies available to prevent any possible damage.
-Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/
-Updated On: May 18, 2017