�Purposeless� Rampal trip ends on vague note

Dubbing the much-hyped trip “purposeless”, environmentalists and academicians who visited the Rampal power plant site yesterday said this would change neither their stance nor that of the government.
The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral resources brought some of the renowned protesters, including environmentalists and academicians, to the site of Rampal power plant for a thorough visit and discussions.
Some of the visitors observed that project work was going on at full swing and thus the “visit” was not going to change anything. Nevertheless, others said at least some sort of “consultation” has been initiated through the trip.
The environmentalists urged the government to immediately put the project on hold, and pave the way for further “fruitful” discussions and exchange views to finalise the next steps relating to the plant.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman told The Independent that work on the plant is in progress, and most of the boundary walls have already been erected around the plant.
"The state minister invited us, and we've seen what is going on here. It's, however, hard to understand the scenario in such a short trip, spanning only a few hours," he pointed out.
Iftekharuzzaman lauded the government's initiative to bring them here, but iterated that the government should put the project on hold and address some of the concerns raised by the environmentalists and academicians.
"We're not against development and we're not asking the government to stop the project. All we're asking is to put the project on hold for now," he said.
He also said the government had asserted that “of the 59 conditions given by the Department of Environment (DoE), 50 have been met by the plant authorities”. "But it has been declared by the project management. We want it to be verified through a credible independent third party," he added.
He also reiterated his fears of rapid industrialisation in this critical area near the Sundarbans, a world heritage site. "Already you can see that some of the large industrial corporations have purchased lands near the plant site," he observed, adding that this practice would only increase in near future after the plant starts operations.
Sharif Jamil, member of the Sundarban Protection Committee, said they had earlier visited the site area and had formed their own observations. "We had discussions and we expressed our own concerns. The project is in the stage of implementation. I fear nothing will change," he lamented.
He also strongly criticised the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the Rampal plant, conducted by the Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS).
"It says the air flow will not go from north to south. But from November to February, it flows from the north to the southeast direction, where the world heritage part of the Sundarbans is located," Jamil said.
"The nearest of three air flow points in the EIA has been measured at a distance of 8km from the plant. Our objection also lies there. It should have been measured at a distance closer to the plant," he added.
Dr Shamsul Alam, energy adviser of the Consumers’ Association of Bangladesh (CAB), also criticised the EIA, saying that the method of transportation of coal through the Pashur river has not been clearly mentioned in the EIA. "I've already held discussions with the ministry about some specific technical issues. I had sent them some queries in written form. They were supposed to send me the reply by November 17, but they didn't,” he said.
Dr Abdul Matin, secretary general of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon, said the trip would not cause them to change their stance. "What's there to change? The government has completed acquisition of land for the project long before the EIA was completed. Now work on the plant is going on and they are asking for our views," he added.
Dr Ijaz Hossain, professor of chemical engineering at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), however, viewed the progress achieved from a positive standpoint. "I earlier recommended inclusion of a flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) unit. They have included the provision to install the unit at the plant,” he said.
FGD is a set of technologies used to remove sulphur dioxide from exhaust flue gases of fossil fuel- or coal-based power plants and from the emissions of other sulphur oxide emission processes.
"Having a FGD unit will not help if it is not run on a regular basis. Many industries in the country have effluent treatment plants (ETP), but they don't run these on a regular basis as it is costly,” he observed.
"I hope that since it's a state-owned entity, it'll run it," Dr Hossain said, adding that the company should consult experts in ensuring other environmental provisions.
He, however, strongly condemned the prospect of industrialisation near the plant. "If just a plant is located here, then it's acceptable. But if other industries are set up here, then it'll definitely affect the Sundarbans,” he said.
State minister for power, energy and mineral resources Nazrul Hamid said there are some people who are against development work. "We didn't bring those people here. We brought those who are willing to understand the whole project with the help of facts,” he added.
He said such a trip, with environmentalists, academicians and journalists, to the project site, has paved the way for clarifying a great deal of facts, which otherwise would have been remained vague.
He, however, ruled out any possibility of putting the project on hold for an interim period until the questions and issues centred on the plan are resolved, as sought by the invitees. "Work will go on. We'll solve the issues simultaneously," the minister iterated.

�Purposeless� Rampal trip ends on vague note

Dubbing the much-hyped trip purposeless, environmentalists and academicians who visited the Rampal power plant site yesterday said this would change neither their stance nor that of the government. The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral resources brought some of the renowned protesters, including environmentalists and academicians, to the site of Rampal power plant for a thorough visit and discussions. Some of the visitors observed that project work was going on at full swing and thus the visit was not going to change anything. Nevertheless, others said at least some sort of consultation has been initiated through the trip. The environmentalists urged the government to immediately put the project on hold, and pave the way for further fruitful discussions and exchange views to finalise the next steps relating to the plant. Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman told The Independent that work on the plant is in progress, and most of the boundary walls have already been erected around the plant. The state minister invited us, and weve seen what is going on here. Its, however, hard to understand the scenario in such a short trip, spanning only a few hours, he pointed out. Iftekharuzzaman lauded the governments initiative to bring them here, but iterated that the government should put the project on hold and address some of the concerns raised by the environmentalists and academicians. Were not against development and were not asking the government to stop the project. All were asking is to put the project on hold for now, he said. He also said the government had asserted that of the 59 conditions given by the Department of Environment (DoE), 50 have been met by the plant authorities. But it has been declared by the project management. We want it to be verified through a credible independent third party, he added. He also reiterated his fears of rapid industrialisation in this critical area near the Sundarbans, a world heritage site. Already you can see that some of the large industrial corporations have purchased lands near the plant site, he observed, adding that this practice would only increase in near future after the plant starts operations. Sharif Jamil, member of the Sundarban Protection Committee, said they had earlier visited the site area and had formed their own observations. We had discussions and we expressed our own concerns. The project is in the stage of implementation. I fear nothing will change, he lamented. He also strongly criticised the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the Rampal plant, conducted by the Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS). It says the air flow will not go from north to south. But from November to February, it flows from the north to the southeast direction, where the world heritage part of the Sundarbans is located, Jamil said. The nearest of three air flow points in the EIA has been measured at a distance of 8km from the plant. Our objection also lies there. It should have been measured at a distance closer to the plant, he added. Dr Shamsul Alam, energy adviser of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), also criticised the EIA, saying that the method of transportation of coal through the Pashur river has not been clearly mentioned in the EIA. Ive already held discussions with the ministry about some specific technical issues. I had sent them some queries in written form. They were supposed to send me the reply by November 17, but they didnt, he said. Dr Abdul Matin, secretary general of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon, said the trip would not cause them to change their stance. Whats there to change? The government has completed acquisition of land for the project long before the EIA was completed. Now work on the plant is going on and they are asking for our views, he added. Dr Ijaz Hossain, professor of chemical engineering at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), however, viewed the progress achieved from a positive standpoint. I earlier recommended inclusion of a flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) unit. They have included the provision to install the unit at the plant, he said. FGD is a set of technologies used to remove sulphur dioxide from exhaust flue gases of fossil fuel- or coal-based power plants and from the emissions of other sulphur oxide emission processes. Having a FGD unit will not help if it is not run on a regular basis. Many industries in the country have effluent treatment plants (ETP), but they dont run these on a regular basis as it is costly, he observed. I hope that since its a state-owned entity, itll run it, Dr Hossain said, adding that the company should consult experts in ensuring other environmental provisions. He, however, strongly condemned the prospect of industrialisation near the plant. If just a plant is located here, then its acceptable. But if other industries are set up here, then itll definitely affect the Sundarbans, he said. State minister for power, energy and mineral resources Nazrul Hamid said there are some people who are against development work. We didnt bring those people here. We brought those who are willing to understand the whole project with the help of facts, he added. He said such a trip, with environmentalists, academicians and journalists, to the project site, has paved the way for clarifying a great deal of facts, which otherwise would have been remained vague. He, however, ruled out any possibility of putting the project on hold for an interim period until the questions and issues centred on the plan are resolved, as sought by the invitees. Work will go on. Well solve the issues simultaneously, the minister iterated.