Coal-based thermal power plant in Kalapara protested

Barisal Correspondent :
Coastal people of Kalapara upazila under Patuakhali district on Saturday noon forming human chain and holding rally protested construction of coal-based thermal power plant in the area.
Government recently took steps for acquisition of 1002 acres of land on those three villages for the plant, which created eviction panic and biodiversity damage-threats among the local residents and environment activists.  
The programme was held at Madhupara village under Dhankhali union of the upazila and participated by huge number of people from Madhupara, Char Nishanbaria, Nishanbaria areas.
The programme was addressed among others by Adv Jalaluddin Talukdar, Convener Kalapara Nagorik Committee, Ismail Talukdar, former UP member, Md. Ali Mia, madrasa teacher, Firoj Talukdar, Sharif Ali Mrridha, local resident.
The speakers said, North-West Power Generation Company of Bangladesh and China National Machinery Export-Import Company under a memorandum signed on March 21, 2014 planned to construct a coal-based 1320 Megawatt thermal power generation plant at the cost of two billion dollar.
The project was approved without any feasibility studies and considerations about pollution of the coastal air-land and water at the delta of Tiakhali, Ramnabad, Andharmanik estuary, threats against the environment, disaster management and biodiversity of the coastal area and people, the speakers alleged.
While the people living in this coastal areas fighting natural disasters like Sidr , Aila, at that time homes and crop lands of twenty thousand residents of the area with 8 educational institutions, 12 mosques, 1 madrsa came under threats of eviction for the power plant, the participants said.
They called the prime minister to select the site of the proposed power plant construction on a barren shoal land instead of populated areas after visiting the region.
However local upazila administration said government selected the site considering probable pollution challenges and will give justified compensations and rehabilitations against the acquisitioned lands.
The eviction and environment disaster panic was created as local people were not clearly informed about the project and its importance and benefits, administrative authourities told.