The Char Bakalia (Ctg) energy recovery plant project abandoned

A proposed waste-to-energy plant at Char Bakalia – a small island on the banks of the Karnaphuli river in Chattogram – has been shelved, the district administration said.

Environmentalists were demanding the project be canceled due to concerns about damage to biodiversity and pollution of rivers.

The Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) had planned to construct the power plant on the newly formed char through a non-governmental organization and submitted an application to the Ministry of Lands for allotment of 35 acres of land for the project .

However, the Ministry of Lands rejected the request.

Later, the Chattogram district administration sent a letter to the Upazila Chief Executive Officer (UNO) of Boalkhali Upazila on October 3 to take necessary action in this regard.

“The decision was taken to protect the environment and in accordance with the court order to protect the river. The Ministry of Lands informed us through a letter that the project proposal has been rejected,” Mohammad Rajib Hossain, commissioner Principal Assistant (Revenue Assistant). collector) and executive magistrate of the district administration, told the Business Standard today (October 6).

“We have informed the relevant parties of the decision,” he added.

According to the letter from the Ministry of Lands, the construction of the factory on Char Bakalia could potentially contaminate the river water and cause significant damage to the ecological balance, particularly biodiversity.

Therefore, the proposal to set up a power plant on 35 acres of land was rejected.

Sheikh Mohammad Tauhidul Islam, director general of the CCC, told TBS: “The district administration informed us about the matter.”

Aliur Rahman, general secretary of Chattogram River and Canal Protection Movement, said that in 2019, the High Court had declared rivers as living entities.

According to Article 18(a) of the Constitution, there is an obligation to protect the environment, natural resources, biodiversity, wetlands, forests and wildlife, he said.

“So, setting up a power plant on a tank in the middle of the river is illegal. We demand it. Finally, cancellation of the project will save the Karnaphuli from destruction.”