Delay in setting up Rampal power plant will hamper Bangladesh’s progress, claims BIFPCL

Delay in setting up the Rampal Power Plant will hamper ‘overall development’ of the country, so claims the Indo-Bangla joint venture company that is building the plant.

Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company (Pvt) Limited (BIFPCL) made the contention in a statement issued on Sunday amidst protests by two leftist platforms against setting up of the plant near the Sundarbans

Bangladesh signed a deal with India for the joint coal-based 1320MW power project on Jan 29, 2012. The state-run power companies of the two countries floated the joint venture to implement the project.

The power plant is proposed to be set up over 1,834 acres near the Mongla seaport.

Several leftist parties and environment organisations have been protesting against the project since the signing of the deal, alleging that it would cause environmental disasters.

The CPB, BaSaD and a leftist platform have been holding a protest march demanding cancellation of the project.

The BIFPCL statement, issued by Manager (Public Relations) Anwarul Azim, asserted that the power plant would not harm the Sundarbans.

It would rather decrease the dependency of the local people on the mangrove forest, he added.

“Several facilities will be created once the project is realised. The area will be developed. The people of the country will get employment, which will expedite overall socio-economic development and will thus play a key role in building a happy and prosperous Bangladesh,” the statement said.  

“The country’s overall development, apart from the power sector, will be hampered if the implementation of the project is delayed,” it added.

Defending use of coal as fuel to generate power in the proposed plant, BIFPCL said, “40 percent of power comes from coal in the US, 41 percent in Germany, 27 percent in Japan, 68 percent in India, 93 percent in South Africa, 78 percent in Australia, 33 percent in Malaysia, and 79 percent in China.

“Bangladesh gets only 2.26 percent power from coal. To increase generation of coal-fired power is the need of the hour,” it said.

The company also said, “A group and some individuals and organisations are spreading misleading and baseless information, which are detrimental to the interest of the country, in a bid to hamper development”.

It said the power plant was ‘at a safe distance’ from the Sundarbans.

It is 69 kilometres away from the UNESCO World Heritage Site and 14 kilometres from the border of the Sundarbans, according to the company. “There is no scope of confusion here,” it said.

The company said the Sundarbans had been exploited for over a hundred years due to the dependency of the local people on it, be it for building new houses or for other financial purposes.

“The local people’s financial dependency on the Sundarbans will decrease once the power plant is set up as it will create avenues for alternative employments. So it will play a positive role in preserving Sundarbans,” the statement read.

It also said ‘modern ultra-super thermal technology’ would be used in the plant, which would ‘prevent emission of harmful dark smoke and ash’.

“The coal would be covered while transporting to the plant. So water or air will not be polluted. The water will be processed through improved technology. No polluted or hot water will be discharged to the river,” the BIFPCL said.

“A small portion of the river Pashur will be used, which in no way will affect the river,” it added.