Rampal plant not harmful to Sundarbans: Pankaj

Indian High Commissioner Pankaj Saran on Wednesday said the 1320 MW Rampal coal-fired power plant will not be harmful to the Sundarbans as “supercritical technology” will be used in the plant. “Rampal plant will have no impact on the Sundarbans forest or its ecology. We hope the plant will come into operation by 2016-17,” he told reporters after a visit to the power plant site. A high-level Indian delegation, led by Indian Power Secretary PK Sinha, which arrived in the country on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Joint Steering Committee (JSC) and joint working committee meeting on power sector, visited the Rampal site Wednesday. The Indian High Commissioner claimed that his country has got experience to develop coal-fired power plant with supercritical technology. Supporting Indian delegate members’ statement, Prime Minister’s Adviser Tawfiq-eElahi Chowdhury said the plant will have a 300-metre chimney which is safe for environment, according to a news agency.