B'desh to lay foundation for biggest coal power plant in Nov

Bangladesh today said its biggest ever coal-based power plant, a joint venture with India, will be launched in November near Sundarbans and it would not have any damaging effects on the environment in the world's largest mangrove forest.
Foundation stone of the 1320 megawatt plant to be built at a cost of USD 1.5 billion would be laid on November 22, despite the protests as a long march 'Save the Sundarbans' reached western Jhenidah on its way to the site at Rampal, said prime minister's energy affairs adviser Tawfiq Elahi Chowdhury.
"Some individuals/organisations are trying to confuse people about the construction of Bangladesh-India joint venture coal fired power plant at Sundarbans.

The government is implementing the project which is very important in the interest of the people," an official note said.
It added that the proposed plant would be constructed complying with all conditions of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), using "super critical technology" and high quality imported coals emitting little carbon, fly ash and sulfur to keep the air pollution at the minimal level.
"The location of the plant is 14 kilometres of the Sundarbans and 72 kilometres off the UNESCO declared Heritage Site of the forests," it said adding that distance is safe enough from the world's largest mangrove forest," it said.

Meanwhile the protesters chanted slogans - "My soil, my mother will not turn into a desert" and "We do not want any power plant, which will destroy the Sundarbans" as they vowed to resist the government move to set up the power plant.
But Chowdhury said that the government has took all measures to keep its impact on the Sundarbans at a "negligible level".