| Coal policy shouldn't permit any open-pit mine, say academics The Daily Mew Age,26 January2008 Academics and civil society members on Friday suggested that the proposed coal policy shouldn't allow the operation of any open pit mine in the country even on test basis for its disastrous effects on environment. 'In general, there is a reflection of people's demand in the present draft coal policy but we suggest that proposed open pit mine on test basis should be dropped from the policy as the mining method is already proven to be a disaster for environment in many countries in the world,' Professor Anu Muhammad said at a roundtable at Dhaka Reporters Unity. Progressive Engineers and Architects Forum organised the roundtable on 'Draft Coal Policy and National Interest of Bangladesh. Forum convener Harun Al Rashid chaired the meeting. Professor Anu said crop production in northern districts, main sources of the country's food security, would be severely affected. 'We are talking only about the coal policy. What will be our rice policy?' Forum member-secretary Sheikh Manjura Haque in her keynote paper said it seemed that the draft policy had the option for open-pit mining to satisfy the foreign companies and lending agencies. Highlighting the impact of both underground and open pit mining methods, both Manjura and Anu observed that Bangladesh should wait for an appropriate technology and method like commercial gasification of coal to be developed before it goes for mining. About the comments of the chief adviser's special assistant Professor M Tamim that the coal mining should be an engineering decision, Anu said, 'I also agree with him in this context.' Engineers and geologists should take the decision on mining method but any foreign company's embedded engineers and geologists shouldn't take a decision on mining method, he added. Anu said a vested quarter was active to entirely foil the latest draft of the coal policy as it has some reflections of the people's movement against effort to loot coal and coal export. Manjura observed that the draft policy had lacked a clear picture on what would happen to the landless people who were the victims of river erosion and natural disaster and live on government land in the coal fields. She also criticised the low rate of royalty and huge foreign participation in developing coal fields. Though the government said it was against corruption why it was not taking steps against illegal activities of Asia Energy, Anu asked, saying that Asia Energy is still raising money through capital market in the UK, showing the Phulbari coal field and is purchasing people in Bangladesh to make them its agents. BUET Professor Nurul Islam, who was a member of the advisory committee that prepared the latest draft of the coal policy, said the existing policy was good for the country. 'After lot of efforts and debate, we prepared the seventh draft of the policy. I apprehend that the government will not approve the policy as the current form of policy is reasonably good and has not looked after the interest of any company.' He defended that any open pit mine should be operated at a shallow depth coal field like Barapukuria on test basis to know the viability of the method in the country. New Age editor Nurul Kabir said that the government of the day doesn't represent the interest of the majority of our people, and one could have no reason to expect the government, headed by a former World Bank official, to take pro-people stance – be it extracting coal or otherwise. 'It was people's resistance that prevented the erstwhile government and the Asia Energy from implementing the anti-people projects in Phulbari', said Nurul Kabir, adding that 'it would, again, require people's resistance to compel the incumbents to abstain from taking anti-people measures as regards coal extractions'. BUET Professor Firoz Ahmed also spoke on the occasion. Open pit mining harmful for environment Speakers tell seminar Application of open pit mining method in extracting coal in a highly populated country like Bangladesh will seriously affect environment and the people, speakers said at a seminar yesterday. Highlighting different aspects of the draft coal policy, they said there is no scope for trying the open pit mining method in Bangladesh. The seminar on 'Draft coal policy and the national interest of Bangladesh' was organised by Progressive Engineers and Architects' Forum at Dhaka Reporters' Unity auditorium in the city, said a press release. Engineer Sheikh Manzura Haque presented the keynote paper while Prof Nurul Islam, Professor Mohammad Firoze Ahmed, Prof Anu Muhammad and journalist Nurul Kabir took part at the discussion. They said open pit mining would cause landslides, as the method will fail to support the 100 to 200 meter sand layer, which contains water, over the coal layer. The speakers also said foreign investments could not bring in any positive changes for the country. Export of coking coal-generated coke, which can make huge contribution to the development of steel industry in the country, will destroy the potentials of the industry here, they added. Open pit coal extraction: Experts come down heavily on govt policy The New nation, 26 January2008 Experts at a seminar in the city said there is no scope for densely populated country like Bangladesh to examine or experiment with coal extraction. The 100 to 200 metres of soft sand on the upper layer of all coal deposit could not protect the open pit landslides. As a result, severe landslide could take place in and around the coalmines anytime, they said. In the open pit system, environmental degradation will reach unbearable level causing serious hazards to human life, they added. The seminar on 'Draft Coal Policy: National Interest of Bangladesh' organised by Progressive Engineers and Architects Forum was held at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday. Prof Anu Muhammad, economist, Prof Nurul Islam, Prof Md Firoz Ahmed, Nurul Kabir, Editor of New Age, among others, spoke, while engineer Harun-ur-Rashid, chaired at the seminar. Engineer Sheikh Manzura Haque presented a keynote paper. Prof Anu Muhammad said, "Earlier foreign investment could not bring any positive impact for the country. For this reason, we should not concentrate on inviting foreign donors to the country." The speakers said although producing coke from coking to export could play an important role for the country, but it will hamper the industrial development of the country. If we proceed on open pit coal policy, it will be hazardous because geological complexity of coalmines and economical constraint of the country are not friendly for this, said one of the speakers. If we preserve our coal resource underground the earth for future, it can be used as coal gasification in the long run, he said. Speakers urged the government to identify the problems the country would face if it opts for extraction open pit of coal resource. In other countries, research on coal resource is intensive. The government should begin research in this regard for saving our valuable resources, speakers opined. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Progressive Engineers and Architects' Forum is one of the front orgamization of Socialist Party of Bangladesh(SPB) |
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