Mr. Muhith’s Rampal Conundrum

Finance Minister Mr. AMA Muhith's admission that the Rampal power plant (RPP) "…would have an adverse effect on the Sundarbans…so many vessels will be carrying coal….they will substantially affect the flora and fauna there," is amazing.

The second intriguing point he makes (in the same bdnews24.com report dated 15.2. 2016) is that "there is no scope to set up a coal-based plant in land-based Bangladesh…so these would be set up at Moheshkhali, Payra and other coastal areas… on the islands linked to Khulna, Bhola and Patuakhali.''

Mr. Muhith also confirms that "now only 9 per cent of forest land should be raised to at least 15 per cent – so we will have to do something domestically for the Sundarbans."

One should be forgiven for being puzzled by the above assertions and the categorical stance that 'RPP was here to stay' and moving it elsewhere is 'probably not a possibility'.

Let us clarify our understanding that 'many ships carrying coal to RPP' is not the crux of the problem though such a heavy river traffic does pose a continuing hazard. The intense pollution adversely affecting the environment and the ecological balance in the area including the Sundarbans would come from burning the massive amounts of coal, which itself is an export boost for the Indians, at our permanent cost.

Secondly, the coastal areas and the islands are as much on Bangladesh land, or would these coal-based PPs be floating on the seashore? Then, the concern for our fast dwindling forests land is shown in his interest to do something for the Sundarbans.The RPP-induced destruction on the cards is certainly not the ideal way to reach the 15% plus target so correctly proposed.

Please allow me to quote from my article (three-quarter of  a page, 5-column spread )  in The Financial Express, dated 20 December, 2011 ) titled "Whither Indo-Bangla relationship in the aftermath of Indian PM's visit?"

"That the above scenario is probable is underscored by the proposed mega-project in power sector as a joint venture – a massive 1322 MW coal-fired plant in Bagerhat/Mongla area in Khulna. The current project cost of US$ 1.5 billion must have already become outdated. This project has so many unanswered questions as to make it a highly suspect, and a potentially dangerous, project. The following are among the most relevant concerns in this regard.

One, when the global preference is to move away from fossil fuel source, this plant is being planned as a coal-fired one. And this obviously implies that coal from India would be the essential element and the huge demand so created would give a fillip to the waning coal -mining industry in Paschimbanga, at our cost.

Secondly, the heavy and continuous pollution of the severest kind shall engulf the flora and fauna of the nearby Sunderbans and the coastal marine life, causing an unprecedented ecological disaster.

Two, project feasibility report finds the site soil condition poor, unstable, and unfit to carry the load of such a mammoth plant, thereby increasing the cost as well the engineering and maintenance risks manifold.

Three, India and Bangladesh are to hold equal share of 30 per cent of equity and the balance, as high as US$1.2 billion is proposed to be taken as Bank Loan and alarmingly, that loan is proposed to be secured with the assistance of the National Thermal Power Company (NTPC).

Four, there has been no public debate, and negative factors against the proposal along with the feasibility reports have been kept under the wraps, without even the Parliament having any inkling of this highly questionable project. It is unbelievable that even before the project approval has been duly processed, over 1800 acres of valuable farm land has been acquired near Mongla.

Five, this site location apart from the soil, engineering, and maintenance negatives, should not be agreed to as such a mega-cost, key and sensitive, essential utilities project cannot be established so close to a volatile border.

In essence, Bangladesh is providing scarce land, half the investment funds, gets involved in a massive external debt, suffers ecological hazards of huge dimensions leading to permanent adverse environmental degradation, imports a huge quantity of Indian coal, and exports an agreed quantum of power at dictated rates to India.

India is outsourcing its power supply, through a hazardous plant located elsewhere, with minimum transmission cost, reaping clean benefits; and she also makes a hefty capital profit through the bank loan of that magnitude through its own source. It will not be at all surprising if the entire coal-fired plant along with experts/operators/advisers  are supplied by India as well, at a dictated price.''

Please note that this assessment done and published five years back is proven correct to the hilt and  the poisonous tree then planted is about to sprout its deadly fruits to destroy Sonar Bangla's pride – the Sundarbans, and push the country to an irreparable zone of environmental and eco-systemic nightmare.

But then our Honnourable FM is an honourable minister and his personal visit to Rampal, as promised, might just put the welfare of the country, and nothing else, on the scale.

Many also wonder whether with all these official views on the table, UNESCO team's visit to RPP and the Sundarbans next month, would just rubber stamp the project. The classic case of a diversion trick would be undertaken to serve India's interest thoroughly, especially with her new demand of 100% Sovereign Guarantee by GOB, a rare, even unique instance of a fail-safe cover for a 50:50 ownership of this over US 2 billion RP Plant.

Let us not weep now! Let our progeny do that later.