Barapukuria, Phulbaria
JS body suggests open-pit mining
The parliamentary standing committee on power and energy ministry has strongly recommended open-pit mining at Barapukuria and Phulbaria coal mines.
A document obtained by The Daily Star says the parliamentary watchdog made the recommendation after visiting different coal mines in Cologne, Germany.
The committee chief Shubid Ali Bhuiyan led a four-member delegation to Germany in October 2010 to gain a first hand experience on mining operations there, it adds.
The delegation upon observations concludes that soil structures, density of coal, and level underground water of Barapukuria and Phulbaria mines are similar to those in Cologne.
So open-pit mining in Cologne can be an example in extracting coal from the two mines of Bangladesh, according to the observers.
“Many believe that our country will turn into desert and the environment will seriously be affected if we go for open-pit mining. But after close observation of open-pit mining in Cologne, we believe that open-pit mining is possible in our country if we plan properly.”
The parliamentary body also said the delegation members exchanged views with local people living around coal mines in Cologne who did not say anything negative about open-pit mining.
“It is possible to extract coal applying open-pit mining in Bangladesh by harming the environment the minimum through successful water management and proper rehabilitation of local people of mine areas,” says the committee.
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