Readers’ Forum

The deadly power plant

It was like a thunderbolt striking us when we learned that the government has signed EPC agreement to implement the 1320MW Maitree Super Thermal Power Project at Rampal near Sunderbans. From the very beginning people from all walks of life were protesting and urging the government to abandon the plan, as it will destroy the world’s largest mangrove forest and our proud possession, a heritage site.
We learned from media that in the past few years the Indian central and state authorities which deal with environmental concerns in India denied the proposal of NTPC to set up a similar coal-fired thermal power plant at Gajmara in Gadarwara of Madhya Pradesh over a number of points. NTPC failed to get approval of the Indian Central Green Panel (Green Tribunal) in 2010.
How could our government allow that in our country? Does not it have any obligation to the people? We demand that the Rampal power plant deal must be cancelled immediately.

Nur Jahan
Chittagong