Khalashpir people cry for resumption of coal mine reserve extraction

RANGPUR, Nov 28: Extraction of coal from Khalashpir coal mine under Pirganj Upazila in Rangpur district is now uncertain as the project is left in an abandoned state due to lack of required funds and the negligence of the concerned authority.

According to sources coal deposit at Khalashpir was discovered about three decades ago. The geological survey team located coal reserve between 130 metres and 200 metres beneath the surface, spreading over an area of 12 to 25 Sq Km. Its quality was identified as bituminous of 11500 BTU grade.

Experts say that the huge reserve of the mine can meet fuel requirements of the country for at least one hundred years. A total of 20 lakh tonnes of coal could be extracted from the mine every year. Besides, a 400 to 500mw coal-based power generation plant can be established at the mine site, they further said.

The mine has a huge reserve of high quality coal which is superior to those of other coals of Asia, they added.

The people of the region have urged the government to take adequate measures for the extraction of coal from the mine as soon as possible.

It is expected that a large number of unemployed youths will get jobs in the mine if the project is implemented, leading to improvement of the economic condition of the poverty-stricken people of the region.