Coal extraction resumes at Barapukuria after 10 days
Sunday, 8 March 2009
DINAJPUR, Mar 7 (BSS): Extraction of coal from Barapukuria coalmine resumed Saturday after a 10-day disruption due to obstructions by the affected landowners.
The labourers joined work at the coalmine following an agreement between State Minister for Forest and Environment Advocate Mustafizur Rahman and representatives of the affected landowners Friday.
Barapukuria Coalmine Project Managing Director Khursidul Hassan said the state minister held a meeting with the affected landowners of Kalupara, Zigagari, Patrapara and Mougram at the coalmine rest house.
During the meeting, the local people placed a nine-point demand, including underground coal extraction.
The state minister assured them of taking steps on behalf of the government to meet their demands.
Mustafizur Rahman said the affected people would get more compensation compared to ones given to those affected whose land was acquired for the construction of the Jamuna Bridge and Meghna Bridge.
He urged the local people to refrain from obstructing coal lifting in future. "You will have to shoulder the responsibility, if any obstruction is created," the state minister warned.
Mostafizur Rahman reminded all that power generation in the coal-based 250-megawatt thermal power plant at Barapukuria would stop in case of any stoppage of coal extraction.
Such situation, he said, would affect irrigation and subsequently the production of rice in the region.
He urged the affected landowners to continue their cooperation for coal extraction in the greater interest of the country.
Later, the state minister held a meeting with the labourers and resolved their problems. He also visited Maddhapara hard rock project.
The labourers joined work at the coalmine following an agreement between State Minister for Forest and Environment Advocate Mustafizur Rahman and representatives of the affected landowners Friday.
Barapukuria Coalmine Project Managing Director Khursidul Hassan said the state minister held a meeting with the affected landowners of Kalupara, Zigagari, Patrapara and Mougram at the coalmine rest house.
During the meeting, the local people placed a nine-point demand, including underground coal extraction.
The state minister assured them of taking steps on behalf of the government to meet their demands.
Mustafizur Rahman said the affected people would get more compensation compared to ones given to those affected whose land was acquired for the construction of the Jamuna Bridge and Meghna Bridge.
He urged the local people to refrain from obstructing coal lifting in future. "You will have to shoulder the responsibility, if any obstruction is created," the state minister warned.
Mostafizur Rahman reminded all that power generation in the coal-based 250-megawatt thermal power plant at Barapukuria would stop in case of any stoppage of coal extraction.
Such situation, he said, would affect irrigation and subsequently the production of rice in the region.
He urged the affected landowners to continue their cooperation for coal extraction in the greater interest of the country.
Later, the state minister held a meeting with the labourers and resolved their problems. He also visited Maddhapara hard rock project.