Govt pays Tk 18m to affected people as land subsidence
Thursday, 20 August 2009
M Azizur Rahman
The government disbursed Tk 18 million to the people living surrounding Barapukuria coalmine last week as compensation for land subsidence in a move to appease the inhabitants before acquiring the area, officials said Monday.
"We have given away the money to the affected to compensate for their damaged households and standing crops," Managing Director of the state-owned Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Ltd (BCMCL) Mohammad Kamruzzaman told the FE Sunday.
He said the people are happy as they have got money beyond their expectations.
"We are ultimately moving ahead to acquire a total of 646 acres of land and evacuate the people now residing there to ensure smooth operation of the underground mine in northern Dinajpur," said Mr Kamruzzaman.
A senior official of the state-owned Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB) said land subsidence is common when there is underground coalmining, and acquisition of land adjacent to the mine area is made to prevent any adverse impact on life and property.
The Barapukuria coalmining area has encountered land subsidence several times, and with the latest compensation the government has paid thrice to the affected.
"This time the affected people have received the highest amount of compensation money," the BCMCL managing director said.
"We gave away Tk 15 million for household reparation and Tk 3.0 million against damaged crops to the affected villagers from August 5-12," he said.
The coalmining company provided Tk 5,000 for damage of every mud-built house and Tk 6,000 for every concrete-built house around the Barapukuria coalmine area.
"We have given money to many who have suffered negligible damage. Some have received as high as Tk 30,000 for owning several houses," Mr Kamruzzaman said.
The BCMCL, the operating authority of the country's lone operational coalmine, also gave away Tk 750,000 for construction of 10 tin-built houses to the land subsidence victims.
"We will also repair two damaged roads at a cost of Tk 860,000 in the area," the BCMCL top official said.
The underground Barapukuria coalmine area saw the first land subsidence in 2005, when a Chinese consortium, led by China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC), just completed development of the coalmine.
Several farming areas were badly affected by the land subsidence, and the government paid a total of Tk 30,152 to the affected landowners.
It took place again in 2008 when the government paid Tk 52,000 as compensation for the damage of households and Tk 1.25 million for standing crops.
The BCMCL top officials and representatives of villagers also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in May last on compensation and cooperation over the planned land acquisition.
The government disbursed Tk 18 million to the people living surrounding Barapukuria coalmine last week as compensation for land subsidence in a move to appease the inhabitants before acquiring the area, officials said Monday.
"We have given away the money to the affected to compensate for their damaged households and standing crops," Managing Director of the state-owned Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Ltd (BCMCL) Mohammad Kamruzzaman told the FE Sunday.
He said the people are happy as they have got money beyond their expectations.
"We are ultimately moving ahead to acquire a total of 646 acres of land and evacuate the people now residing there to ensure smooth operation of the underground mine in northern Dinajpur," said Mr Kamruzzaman.
A senior official of the state-owned Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB) said land subsidence is common when there is underground coalmining, and acquisition of land adjacent to the mine area is made to prevent any adverse impact on life and property.
The Barapukuria coalmining area has encountered land subsidence several times, and with the latest compensation the government has paid thrice to the affected.
"This time the affected people have received the highest amount of compensation money," the BCMCL managing director said.
"We gave away Tk 15 million for household reparation and Tk 3.0 million against damaged crops to the affected villagers from August 5-12," he said.
The coalmining company provided Tk 5,000 for damage of every mud-built house and Tk 6,000 for every concrete-built house around the Barapukuria coalmine area.
"We have given money to many who have suffered negligible damage. Some have received as high as Tk 30,000 for owning several houses," Mr Kamruzzaman said.
The BCMCL, the operating authority of the country's lone operational coalmine, also gave away Tk 750,000 for construction of 10 tin-built houses to the land subsidence victims.
"We will also repair two damaged roads at a cost of Tk 860,000 in the area," the BCMCL top official said.
The underground Barapukuria coalmine area saw the first land subsidence in 2005, when a Chinese consortium, led by China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC), just completed development of the coalmine.
Several farming areas were badly affected by the land subsidence, and the government paid a total of Tk 30,152 to the affected landowners.
It took place again in 2008 when the government paid Tk 52,000 as compensation for the damage of households and Tk 1.25 million for standing crops.
The BCMCL top officials and representatives of villagers also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in May last on compensation and cooperation over the planned land acquisition.