DINAJPUR: Vexed by a double-crunch, thousands of villagers laid a siege to the coal-based Barapukuria Power Plant in Parbatipur upazila on Tuesday morning to press for uninterrupted supply of power and water.

Army personnel were called out and deployed in the area, alongside police, to tackle the situation, official and local sources said.

People from five villages around the project site brought out a protest procession and gheraoed the 250-megawatt-capacity power plant at about 10am.

Action Committee on Water and Power in Barapukuria sources said plant management lifts excessive water with 14 high-powered pumps for technical support. Water pumps and tube-wells in the five villages went dry as the water-table subsided for the heavy pumping, they added.

Committee member Anwarul Haque told banglanews, “We’re being deprived of our rights. People can’t live without water. But we’ve been passing days amid severe water crisis.”    

He also threatened to cut off the water supply to the power plant if their demand is not met by October 26.

Committee convenor Shamsul Haq said the plant authorities do not take any measures to mitigate their problems despite repeated request.

Executive Engineer of Barapukuria Power Plant Biswanath Hawalder said that the management was trying to solve the problem. “Talks are being held with the villagers. Problems can be solved through discussion,” he said.

Earlier on August 25, over 2,000 people of the affected areas staged mass demonstrations and submitted recommendations containing their demands to the authorities.

BDST: 1400 HRS, SEP 14, 2010