Assess impacts thru impartial, independent experts: SAHR

Environment experts and activists yesterday demanded that the government halt construction of the coal-fired Rampal power plant in Bagerhat until an environmental impact assessment (EIA) was conducted by impartial and independent specialists.

They were talking about their findings at the site from April 5 to 8 working under a regional rights network, South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), at a press conference in the capital's Jatiya Press Club.

The SAHR team with four members from Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka had also exchanged views with stakeholders. "If the impartial EIA finds the power plant damaging to the Sundarbans, the project work must be postponed immediately and relocated somewhere else," said one member, Sharif Jamil.

It has been observed that the government did not comply with a majority of Department of Environment (DoE) conditions before starting the construction, he said.

"The current EIA, conducted by a government-owned organisation, is faulty on many counts. It used secondary data collected before 2010 for most of the parameters," he added.

It is a matter of concern that the plant will lead to a considerable loss of livelihoods, scarcity of food and drinking water and habitat loss for vegetation and animals, said Sharif.

The plant, on the banks of the Pashur river and surrounded by the Maidara river, is only eight kilometres away from the Dhangmari dolphin sanctuary, he said. "No dolphin was seen by the mission during a six-hour boat ride on the Pashur river even in Dhangmari dolphin sanctuary, which is alarming," he added.

The team also observed that no due process was followed in land acquisition and relocation of locals.

A large number of landless families whose livelihoods depended on the land and water-bodies have been displaced without being provided any compensation, they said.

The rights body observed that the river belt from the Mongla port to Rampal was undergoing rapid industrialisation with business conglomerates gradually taking over land legally and illegally.

Rights activist Sultana Kamal, on behalf of SAHR's Bangladesh chapter, alleged that some locals were being harassed by the plant authorities.

She said the SAHR was not opposing the construction but had some observations, for it was directly related to the safety of the Sundarbans and livelihoods.

Former SAHR co-chairperson Hameeda Hossain, Prof Asif Nazrul of Dhaka University, SAHR Executive Director Deekshya Illangasinghe and Prof Abdullah Harun Chowhdury of Khulna University were present.