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AKRAM TALUKDER, DINAJPUR
Despite strong opposition by a section of local people the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Planning Ministry yesterday advocated open pit coal mining system at Barapukuria in Dinajpur.
While exchanging views with some local people at the office of the Barapukuria coal mining site, Chairman of the Standing Committee Col (Retd) Oli Ahmed explained the reasons in favour of open pit coal mining.
Members of the standing committee-Shafiqul Islam, Dr Azizul Haque Chowdhury, Hamida Banu Shova and Col (Retd) Nazrul Islam were also present during the meeting.
Col Oli said extraction of 90 per cent of coal will be possible under the open pit system as against 30 per cent under ground system.
"Houses will collapse and the areas will become unlivable if coal is extracted in under ground system. But extraction of coal under open pit system will be environment friendly," Oli Ahmed claimed.
A section of people is against the open pit, said Oli adding, "these people are acting as brokers by taking money from foreign companies. They are serving the interest of foreign countries to deprive us of our own resources".
He said Bangladesh will not have to import coal for the next one thousand years if coal is extracted under open pit system. "The government will ensure appropriate compensation including rehabilitation of the affected people and their lands. The government will never do anything against the interest of the people," Col Oli assured.
Mahfuzur Rahman, president of Hamidpur Union Awami League (AL) opposed the parliamentary committee's opinion and said, "We don't want to go anywhere from our ancestral homes by leaving the graves of our forefathers ."
We don't need any facilities in exchange for lands and homes for coal mining under open pit system, he further said.
Shabuddin, a social worker, said it will seriously affect the environment if coal is extracted under open pit system instead of under ground mining.



http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=146596