Exploring mineral sands
A report on the matter was published on 12th. July in the pages of a local English daily; the writer cited "adverse impact in environment" as the reason for not allowing mineral sand exploration, anywhere in Bangladesh. If we are serious about "protecting the environment, as well as our precious health", then smoking should have been abandoned much earlier!
Exploration of mineral sands should be allowed, however, with the provision that environment pollution is minimum, if any! Today's technology can manage to contain environment pollution to a large degree; and it can be effectively minimized. Recovering and exporting minerals like rutile, zircon, and others can help us earn foreign exchange.
It will also help the growth of related local activity, and improve the economy of the regions where this exploration will be undertaken. Today these areas are fairly under-developed; a rational decision can be taken; setting off the disadvantages of some atmospheric pollution against the many advantages and economic activities that will come from exploring our mineral sands!
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