Chittagong: A government department became busy with preparation for establishing a massive 1300-megawatt coal-based power station at the bay coast in Anwara Upazila at a huge cost, both in terms of money and apprehended ecological damages.

It is feared that the country’s major seaport Patenga, the international airport in the port city, fertilizer factories KAFCO and CUFL, the naval base along with innumerable vital establishments and the locality will come under environmental threats if the power project is implemented on about 3,000 acres of seashore area.

Earlier, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) had conducted a feasibility study for setting up a same kind of power plant with a 1000MW capacity in the same area in joint collaboration with the government of Bangladesh.

But the site was cancelled following some reasons that had surfaced through the survey.

A JICA official, on condition of anonymity, said the depth of sea in the costal area is too shallow for coal-laden ship to reach the project. Also, there was bar on installing high-rise ‘chimney’ in the airport and its adjacent areas.

“In consideration of the risk of environmental pollution, the Anwara site was finally kept out of the project,” he added.

Officials of the environment directorate declined to inform what kind of environmental problems could crop up in the surroundings for implementing such a coal-fired power project.

Monir Chowdhury, Director of the Directorate of Environment, said clearance from the directorate is a prerequisite for undertaking such a development project and the directorate needs a survey before issuing the clearance.

"We do not know anything about the project till now," he said.

An officer, wishing anonymity, said if the environmental survey goes against the project, the future of the project will become uncertain.

The distance of the seaport, the airport, and shipping and airplane establishments is only 10 kilometers from the project site located in the estuary of the Karnaphuli and the Bay of Bengal.

Aktheruzzaman Chowdhury Babu MP of the ruling Awami League said there is no alternative to having new power plants to meet the emergency demand for electricity, as the country reels from outages.

"I have opposed the project that would be implemented evicting people of the areas," he said. The ministers and advisers concerned of the government gave him assurance that the project would not be implemented without their concern.

High officials of the Power Development Board said the power plant would run on imported coal. Some 15,000 tonnes coal is needed per day for the plant, said Project Director Khandaker Azizur Rahman.

“We have to start the project with a stock of 13 lakh tonnes of coal for 90 days. Some 50 lakh tonnes would be burned per year in the project.”

Former Director-General of Power Cell BD Rahmat Ullah said lower-quality coal would be used in the project. As a result, huge amounts of sulfur will be emitted from coal-burn, which would endanger the environment.

An officer of Chittagong seaport, on condition of anonymity, said foreign sailors might have to face health risks if coal-fired power plant is established near the port.
 
Airport sources said Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport permits maximum 65-metre-high construction in its flying zone. But the power station will require a chimney having the height of 95 metres.

The report of JICA delivered the same information: the height and smoke from the chimney will create trouble for national and international flights.

Moreover, locals of Anwara are now facing severe health risks for the pollution caused by multinational fertiliser factory KAFCO.

The local parliament member, Akhtaruzzaman, said, “The green area turned into red because of KAFCO. The area will become uninhabitable if it is polluted further.”

A total of 3,188 acres of land adjacent to Parki beach of Anwara was determined to be acquired for the coal-based power station. The DC office has already occupied 500-acre land while 645-acre land of Rangadia and Majherchor of Karnaphuli was proposed to be acquired for the plant. The process of acquiring land was halted as local MP along with locals stood opposed to the move.

Anisur Rahman Mia, Additional DC (land acquirement), said papers on acquired lands in the first phase were sent to the land ministry for approval.

Though the decision on second-phase land acquisition was taken in principle, the MP from the area, the state minister for power and the energy adviser will take decision in this regard, he added.

“Clearances from Environment department, Chittagong Port and Airport are mandatory to go for this kind of project,” said Anisur Rahman.

But no such permission was taken yet, said sources.

Locals, their households, thousands of acres of cultivable land, fisheries, and small and medium industries will be affected seriously if the proposed coal-unloading jetty and store yard in Rangadia and Majherchar areas are constructed.

BDST:1647HRS, SEP 02, 2010