Phulbari election and open pit mining
In an editorial of 25th January a local English daily stated that the Phulbari election result reflects the opinion of the people against open pit mining. It actually reflects the clash between self-interest and national interest. It also reflects that popular views aired by leaders to build their vote bank override all national, strategic and economic interests.
Will the Phulbari people therefore prefer an underground mine like Barapukuria? Or do they want the coal to lie where it is, unexplored, while we go on importing our fuel requirements?
If underground mining is their choice, then we can refer to the first page report published in your January 18th issue. In that report, it was stated that about 4.2 square kilometre near the underground mine site will subside up to two meters (over six feet) and a big lake will be created!
Land subsidence is a natural consequence of underground mining; however the matter was omitted in the planning and approval of the mining project in early nineties! Because of this deliberate (?) omission, no financial allocation was made for compensating the people for loss of their land and property, who would be affected by the sudden subsidence of topsoil so long as the mining continues underground. However, the location, size and intensity of destruction, because of land subsiding without warning, cannot however be forecast accurately.
These subsidence being sudden and unannounced, the loss of land, household and property is that much more damaging, and the sudden need for rehabilitation increases the misery and also physical and mental anguish for the sufferers. It is believed that many people have been reduced to poverty and have become landless because of this in Phulbari.
In stark contrast, for open cast mining, the mine area can be clearly demarcated in advance, and the people provided alternative land or compensated even before mining starts, in a planned manner. Once the coal is extracted the pit can be refilled by the soil burden left over from the excavation, and the pit redeveloped and made available for habitation. There is no danger of sudden subsidy and loss of land and property.
I am sure if this is properly explained to the people of the locality in a clear manner, and the government publicly declares its intention to have planned relocation programme rather than sudden misery and helplessness, I believe the people will then appreciate the advantage of open cast mining. I would request the government to pass this programme of rehabilitation and compensation in the Jatiyo Sangsad, and then start open pit coal mining in Phulbari which is needed to reduce our dependence on imported fuel. This proposal deserves top priority for declaring the policy and implementing the open cast mining of coal which is far more cost effective than underground mining.
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