Amid strong opposition from different quarters including environmental
activists, a top official Wednesday announced the foundation stone of
the controversial project would be laid on October 22.
Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, energy adviser to the prime minister, made the
announcement when a large group of activists, who started a long march
Tuesday to drum up support against the project, were on their way to the
Rampal project site, which is only 14 kilometres off the world’s
largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans.
The National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and
Ports organised the long march.
Addressing a press conference at Bidyut Bhaban, the energy adviser said
India will test supply 250 megawatt power to Bangladesh from Thursday
while the final supply will begin on October 5.
On April 20, the government inked a deal with India’s state-run National
Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to set up a 1,320MW coal-fired power
plant at Rampal in Bagerhat.
Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and NTPC will implement the
$1.5 billion project on a 50-50 equity basis.
Of the total project cost, 70 percent will be arranged through loans and....
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