Dhaka: Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company (Pvt.) Limited (BIFPCL) on Tuesday issued a statement protesting the ongoing propaganda against the largest coal based power plant, which is set to install at Rampal of Bagherhat.

‘It is noticed that some groups and organizations are spreading misleading and baseless propaganda against the biggest coal based 1320 MW power plant of the country to be set up at Rampal, Bagerhat as a joint venture of Bangladesh and Indian government, which is detrimental to the interest of the country,’ the statement said.

‘This power plant would be established by following all rules, regulations and standards of international organization as well as the Department of Environment of Bangladesh. All, including human beings, the Sundarbans and its bio-diversities, Pashur River, birds and fishes are totally safe from this power plant,’ it also said.

Aimed at erasing confusion among the people about the location of the power plant and usage of environment friendly technology, the statement said, ‘The plant is located in a safe area from the Sundarbans. The distance of the plant from the UNESCO World Heritage is 69-Km and 14-Km from the outer boundary of the Sundarbans. As a result, there is no scope to become confused about the location of the power plant and the Sundarbans.’

‘Modern ultra-Super Thermal Technology would be used in the plant, which would prevent emission of harmful dark smoke and ash. While transporting to the plant the coal would be covered. So water or air will not be polluted. The water will be processed through improved technology. No polluted or hot water will be discharged to the river. A small portion of the water of river Pashur will be used, which in no way will affect the river.’

Showing statistics on using coal in generating power at different countries, the statement said, ‘Various countries of the world have been giving thrust on using coal as an alternative source of fuel to generate electricity. In the USA 40 percent of electricity generated from coal while in Germany it is 41 percent, in Japan it is 27 percent, in India it is 68 percent, in South Africa the percentage is 93, in Australia it is 78 percent, 33 percent in Malaysia and 79 percent in China. On the other hand, Bangladesh produces only 2.26 percent electricity from coal. So in order to ensure rapid economic growth we need to emphasize coal based power plants.’

‘It can be noted that the Sundarbans had been exploited for over a hundred years due to the dependency of the local people on it, be it for building new houses or for other financial purposes. The local people's financial dependency on the Sundarbans will decrease once the power plant is set up as it will create avenues for alternative employments. So it will play a positive role in preserving the Sundarbans,’ it also said.

It also said, ‘The country's overall development, apart from the power sector, will be hampered if the implementation of the project is delayed. Some groups and organizations are spreading misleading and baseless information, which are detrimental to the interest of the country, in a bid to hamper development.’

Mentioning measures taken by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's to save environment for which she was awarded with ‘Champions of the Earth Award’, the release said, ‘It is no way possible for her (Sheikh Hasina) to take any decision which may go against environment as well as the Sundarbans. Her government is very much committed to ensuring bio-diversity and ecological balance of the mangrove forest. Because of her visionary leadership in 2014, ‘Dhaka Declaration’ was accepted to protect tigers of the Sundarbans and other countries.’

‘The present government has been relentlessly working to make Bangladesh as a middle income country by 2041. Therefore, interrupted and sustainable electricity is highly required for economic and social up lift. As a result government has started using coal as an alternative fuel to produce electricity. However, the stock of the natural gas is also limited and reducing day by day,’ the statement said.

Under the dynamic and able leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the cabinet took a historic decision on 2 March 2015 that a fund will be created by 3 paisa per unit as levy and this fund will be used for the socio-economic welfare of the local people of the areas of coal based power plants, it added.

‘As part of Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR), BIFPCL has started free medical services along with free medicines for the local people. Thus, it has started contributing to improve health issues of the locals. It is important to note that the number of women patients is higher than the male. The female patients are getting better healthcare from this medical camp of the company. The local people are happy about it,’ it informed.