Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) unearthed Thursday a series of irregularities and unethical transactions of money in coal-based Rampal and Matarbari power plant projects at different levels.
The TIB study report on 'Rampal and Matarbari Power Plant Project: Governance Challenges in Land Acquisition and Environmental Impact Assessment' said many of the affected people, due to the land acquisition for Rampal plant, are yet to receive compensation while fake shrimp farm lessees have received substantial amount of compensation at Matarbari.
The people affected due to land acquisition in the project areas are being deprived of getting minimum compensation because of the irregularities and corruption in its withdrawal process.
The TIB study found in every file processing for paying compensation, the affected people have to pay 3.0 to 10 per cent of the total compensation money as bribe and a section of the administration officials is involved in this unlawful act.
The TIB report was unveiled at a press conference at the TIB office in the city. TIB executive director (ED) Iftekharuzzaman, chairperson of TIB trustee board Sultana Kamal, deputy ED Sumaiya Khair and research and policy director Rafiqul Hasan were present on the occasion.
Deputy programme manager of research and policy department Mohammad Hossain presented the findings of the study that was conducted between November, 2014 and February, 2015.
The government has undertaken two coal -based mega power projects at Rampal and Matarbari with a target of producing 1320 megawatt each at a cost of Tk 145.10 billion and Tk 360 billion respectively. The Rampal project will be implemented by India-Bangladesh Friendship Co Ltd and Matarbari by Coal Power Generation Co Bd Ltd.
Iftekharuzzaman said it is a matter of great concern that the Indian company could not implement the same coal-based power project in the Indian part of Sundarbans.
In case of Japan International Cooperation Agency's (JICA's) fund, it is one kind of fraudulence with Bangladeshi people, he added.
"JICA pledged to pay compensation for climate change. But they have been providing loan from the climate fund and in such a project that is harmful for the environment which they cannot do," said Mr Iftekharuzzaman.
The report said out of more than 3681 applications for compensations relating to Matarbari plant, only 492 people have been compensated.
"Existing rules and laws were not followed in the process of land acquisition while people with opposing views about both the projects were threatened and subjugated. Affected people who did not get due compensation and joined the anti-project movement were harassed by filing false cases".
"We see coal -based power plants are being discouraged allover the world because of its environmental impact. But here the government has been undertaking large-scale coal- based power projects numbering 18 without considering environmental impact," said the corruption watchdog boss.
The land compensation amount fixed for the affected people as per the 'Acquisition and Requisition of Immovable Ordinance 1982' equal to the sale price of the past 12 months, is much lower than the market price of land, the report said.
"On the other hand, in Matarbari plant, the price of the shrimp farms has been over priced in connivance with local influentials and government officials. Shrimp farm lessees claimed a compensation of about Tk 308.29 million by showing 25 farms (actual 10) and Tk 223.3 million has already been distributed among 114 lessees some of whom are not genuine".
Also the land was acquired without prior notice and affected people were vacated before paying compensation, the report added.
The TIB report said opinions of the participants of the mass hearing were ignored while finalising the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in Rampal project. The locals were forced to participate in the mass hearing in the face of threat from the local influential political leaders.
In case of Matarbari, there was no national level hearing for completing EIA, views exchange meetings were not held in project area and opinions of all the participants were not reflected in the meeting notes.
None of the two projects had properly conducted the EIA following the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Guideline for Industries 1997, the report said.
In the Rampal project which will be implemented by the government, the EIA was conducted by Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and National Thermal Power Plant Company Ltd (NTPC) and in Matarbari project the EIA has been done by a Japanese company creating conflict of interest.
The environment department has issued the clearance certificate to these projects although neither of the selected lands are empty or industrial plots.
Even opinion of the forest department was ignored in case of the Rampal plant where earth filling was completed before conducting the EIA. But the environment department kept mum on the issue without taking any legal action against them.
Iftekharuzzaman called upon the authority concerned to close the coal- based power projects phase by phase considering the environmental impact and develop solar and renewable energy based power generation technology.
Sultana Kamal said it is true that power generation is a big challenge for us but not at the cost of people, animals and environment. People will participate and welcome any project undertaken for national interest.
The information about the overall compensation and resettlement process was not open and the agreements with the investors were not made public, TIB study said.
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