Government cautious on Rampal power plant, says PM’s adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury

The government will go ahead with the Rampal power plant near the Sundarbans by mitigating the UNESCO's concern, says the prime minister’s energy adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury.

"We will initiate mitigating measures, if necessary. The UNESCO is concerned about the environmental impact. Similarly, we are careful that no harm is done to the Sundarbans," he said on Monday.
 
Chowdhury, who advises the prime minister on power, energy and mineral resources, emerged before the media after a UNESCO report was published on Sunday.
 
It contradicts the government’s pervious claim that the UN agency has withdrawn its objection.
 
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee insisted in its report that no development should be allowed to proceed without a thorough assessment of the environmental impact.
 
Chowdhury said the government will conduct a strategic environmental assessment as the UNESCO has suggested, and continue with the project.

"The draft of the UNESCO report said 'including Rampal', which was later dropped after the hearing.

"They told us not to go for any major project, without an environmental assessment. We have informed them about withholding some of the projects, except Rampal. They had welcomed it," he told the media briefing.

Chowdhury added that the draft report insisted stopping the Rampal project. "Now they say, it can go ahead, but mitigating measures have to be taken, if needed."

On Jul 9, the prime minister's adviser claimed that UNESCO had reconsidered its opposition to the Rampal construction project after hearing arguments on mitigating measures by the government.

A similar claim was made by the foreign ministry on Jul 6. It had said a delegation led by the Chodhury had convinced the World Heritage Committee about the government’s plans at a meeting in Poland.

The anti-Rampal plant camp platform, National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, had doubted the government claim.

After the UNESCO published its report, the committee’s Member Secretary Anu Muhammad said the government's statement "issued hastily on the back of false information" contradicts the report's findings.

"It doesn't specifically mention the Rampal power plant, but called on the government to drop all plans for infrastructure and industrial projects near the Sundarbans," he told bdnews24.com on Monday.

“We have been saying that the government is being dishonest and adamant over the Rampal power plant. Following the UNESCO report, we urge the government to drop the Rampal power plant and other planned infrastructure projects and formulate regulations to save the forest."