Open pit mining in Phulbari to harm agriculture, industry
Rangpur-Dinajpur businessmen tell meeting
Businessmen of greater Rangpur and Dinajpur yesterday strongly opposed the idea of open pit coal-mining in Phulbari, saying that the project will threaten growing agriculture industry in the region and eventually prove as an impracticable venture.
At a meeting on 'Development of Greater Rangpur-Dinajpur: Opportunities and Obstacles' organised by Greater Rangpur-Dinajpur Business Development Forum, they suggested taking opinion of the affected people before taking initiative of implementing Phulbari coalmine that would cover at least four upazilas of Dinajpur district.
Phulbari coalmine, which was not a stipulated agenda of the meeting held at the auditorium of Dinajpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, turned out as the focus of discussion as several speakers spoke on coal extraction from Phulbari coalmine applying open pit method.
At least 200 industries have been closed in last ten years due to fund constraints, the speakers said, adding that Phulbari coalmine now seems to threaten the promising agro-based industries in northern region.
Launching of the open caol mine will need at least 6,000 hectares of land and it will result in dislocating about 4,70,000 people including 50,000 indigenous people, they said.
They expressed apprehension that the coal project will lead to decline in the agricultural products including rice in Dinajpur and render thousands of people jobless.
The project will also create serious environmental problems including lowering of the groundwater level while half of Phulbari township may have to be shifted elsewhere, if coal is extracted using open pit method, the speakers said.
Referring to his experience of visiting open and underground coalmines, Dinajpur Chamber of Commerce and Industries President Md Rafiqul Islam said underground mining is less hazardous.
Neighbouring India is also extracting coal with underground method although it has vast land areas, he said.
He urged the authorities concerned to consider the fate of affected people of four upazilas and future employment before implementing the project.
Questioning the role of several government officials about Phulbari coalmine, speakers said the submitted report has evaded important issues like proper management of ground water, treatment of water that would be polluted by the mine and relocation of a large number of people.
FBCCI President Anisul Haque in his speech as chief guest suggested forming a committee to assess the effects and aftermath if Phulbari coalmine is implemented in Dinajpur.
Dinajpur Municipality Chairman Md Shafiqul Haque Chhutu said a few organisations are spending money to motivate people in the district about the open pit coalmine.
At least 572 million tonnes of coal is reserved in Phulbari coal bed. Brig Gen Masud Ali Khan, Osman Goni, president of Thakurgaon Chamber, Shohel Parvez of Nilphamari Chamber and Aminul Bari of Joypurhat Chamber, spoke among others, at the meeting presided over by Greater Rangpur-Dinajpur Business Development Forum President Md Nazrul Islam.
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