A lot of confusion is now prevailing in the country over the construction of the Rampal power plant. Environmentalists and civil society bodies are opposing the project vehemently in view of the possible damages to environment to be inflicted by the project. But the government thinks otherwise. The Prime Minster has ruled out any possibility of harm to environment due to the project. In this way argument and counter-arguments are going on and perplexing the common people. The main concern of the environmentalists, who are opposing the project, is that it will throw our eco system in jeopardy. The proposed site of the project is perilously close to the Sunderbans, they argue. The Sunderbans is critically important for our eco system to maintain ecological balance in our nature. On the other hand, UNESCO declared the Sunderbans as a World Heritage Site which signifies that it is not only important for Bangladesh but also for the world at large. I think the government, instead of rushing to implement the project, should think over the whole issue and review its stance. Energy is an important prerequisite for the country's progress, but it should not be produced at the cost of our ecological balance. The proposed power plant at Rampal is a coal-based power project. The 1320 MW power plant is only 14 kilometres off the outer boundary of the Sunderbans. The government should discuss the matter with experts and constitute a national committee to dispel all doubts.
Amiruzzaman Khan
Mirpur, Dhaka
