Offsetting impact of Rampal power project

Tk 840cr green project mulled

In an apparent bid to stave off the controversies and protests involving the Rampal Power Plant, the government is now planning to take up a Tk 840 crore project to protect the Sundarbans.
The plan represents the government’s firm stance in implementing the power project, even as protests from different quarters are growing fast.
People from different quarters, including environmentalists, had been saying time and again that the implementation of the coal-based power plant near the Sundarbans, a UNESCO world heritage site, would destroy the world’s largest mangrove forest.
The ministry of forest and environment has already sent the Detailed Project Plan (DPP) to the Planning Commission, for review, sources said.
Under the Tk. 840 crore project, which will be implemented within 2016-2021, a number of programmes will be undertaken. These include biodiversity conservation, alternative livelihood programme, and installation of digital monitoring and smart patrolling systems.
As part of the alternative livelihood programme, employment opportunities will be created for around 100,000 people of the area, in two phases. Besides, a regular vigilance committee, comprising law enforcement personnel and influential persons from the area, will be created, to ensure the protection of the forest, said the project document.

Talking to The Independent, Abul Kalam Azad, principle secretary to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said the project will ensure that no harm is done to “our national pride—the Sundarbans”.
He also said that Rampal Power Plant will take place and there is no way of stepping back from the project being implemented.
“The coal-based plant that we have in Barapukuria is sub-critical. After that, there are critical, super-critical and ultra-super-critical technologies. Rampal will be an ultra-super-critical power plant. Can anyone say how much Barapukria—a sub-critical power plant—harms the environment there?”
The principle secretary said that those who are protesting Rampal power plant always said that this would harm the forest and the tigers. “Nobody, however, said that this would harm the humans. Because, the truth is, Rampal will be beneficial for people.”
He said that because of the power plant, employment opportunities will be created. “People who are now involved in cutting trees and poaching inside the Sundarbans will get proper employment opportunities. Besides, because of the sensitive establishment there, the vigilance over Sundarbans will increase.”
He said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wouldn’t have allowed the implementation of Rampal power plant had there been the slightest chance of harming the Sundarbans. 
“Our Prime Minister is very cautious about environmental protection. She is taking updates about the plant on a regular basis.”
However, Prof. Anu Muahmmad, member secretary of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, told The Independent that this project is nothing but an eyewash.
“There is no need of spending Tk. 840 crore and there is no need for spending billions of dollars to implement Rampal power plant near the forest. The best way to protect Sundarbans is to leave it alone.”
Anu Muhammad said that the project money will be misused. “Who is giving money for implementing the project? If you look at the project proposal, you will see that a large portion of it will come from the donor agencies. That money will be used for the foreign trips of the bureaucrats.”
“Under the project, employment will be created for 100,000 people. How about the millions of people who will lose their livelihood due to destruction of the forest? The entire population of the coastal area will be affected.”
“We have repeatedly urged the government to stop this controversial project. But, the government is paying no heed to these demands. I believe, this Sundarbans protection project is just a hoax that the government is trying to play with its people,” he said.
Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) who is also vocal against the power project, said taking a project to protect the Sundarbans on the onset of implementing Rampal project actually indicates that it will hurt the Sundarbans.
“Why the government would take the Sundarban protection project now? We are not against any project which will protect the Sundarbans. But intention behind planned project becomes questionable as the government frequently refuses to abandon the power project which will obviously cause serious harm the forest.”

Offsetting impact of Rampal power project

Tk 840cr green project mulled

In an apparent bid to stave off the controversies and protests involving the Rampal Power Plant, the government is now planning to take up a Tk 840 crore project to protect the Sundarbans. The plan represents the governments firm stance in implementing the power project, even as protests from different quarters are growing fast. People from different quarters, including environmentalists, had been saying time and again that the implementation of the coal-based power plant near the Sundarbans, a UNESCO world heritage site, would destroy the worlds largest mangrove forest. The ministry of forest and environment has already sent the Detailed Project Plan (DPP) to the Planning Commission, for review, sources said. Under the Tk. 840 crore project, which will be implemented within 2016-2021, a number of programmes will be undertaken. These include biodiversity conservation, alternative livelihood programme, and installation of digital monitoring and smart patrolling systems. As part of the alternative livelihood programme, employment opportunities will be created for around 100,000 people of the area, in two phases. Besides, a regular vigilance committee, comprising law enforcement personnel and influential persons from the area, will be created, to ensure the protection of the forest, said the project document. Talking to The Independent, Abul Kalam Azad, principle secretary to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said the project will ensure that no harm is done to our national pridethe Sundarbans. He also said that Rampal Power Plant will take placeand there is no way of stepping back from the projectbeing implemented. The coal-based plant that we have in Barapukuriais sub-critical. After that, there are critical, super-critical and ultra-super-critical technologies. Rampal will be an ultra-super-critical power plant. Can anyone say how much Barapukriaa sub-critical power plantharms the environment there? The principle secretary said that those who are protesting Rampal power plant always said that this would harm the forest and the tigers. Nobody, however, said that this would harm the humans. Because, the truth is, Rampal will be beneficial for people. He said that because of the power plant, employment opportunities will be created. People who are now involved in cutting trees and poaching inside the Sundarbans will get proper employment opportunities. Besides, because of the sensitive establishment there, the vigilance over Sundarbans will increase. He said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wouldnt have allowed the implementation of Rampal power plant had there been the slightest chance of harming the Sundarbans. Our Prime Minister is very cautious about environmental protection. She is taking updates about the plant on aregular basis. However, Prof. Anu Muahmmad, member secretary of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, told The Independent that this project is nothing but an eyewash. There is no need of spending Tk. 840 crore and there is no need for spending billions of dollars to implement Rampal power plant near the forest. The best way to protect Sundarbans is to leave it alone. Anu Muhammad said that the project money will be misused. Who is giving money for implementing the project? If you look at the project proposal, you will see that a large portion of it will come from the donor agencies. That money will be used for the foreign trips of the bureaucrats. Under the project, employment will be created for 100,000 people. How about the millions of people who will lose their livelihood due to destruction of the forest? The entire population of the coastal area will be affected. We have repeatedly urged the government to stop this controversial project. But, the government is paying no heed to these demands. I believe, this Sundarbans protection project is just a hoax that the government is trying to play with its people, he said. Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) who is also vocal against the power project, said taking a project to protect the Sundarbans on the onset of implementing Rampal project actually indicates that it will hurt the Sundarbans. Why the government would take the Sundarban protection project now? We are not against any project which will protect the Sundarbans. But intention behind planned project becomes questionable as the government frequently refuses to abandon the power project which will obviously cause serious harm the forest.