bd EnergY LinK

UNB, Dinajpur

The fast-unto-death strike that began Wednesday by hundreds of people affected by land subsidence for Barapukuria coal-mining demanding compensation and their permanent rehabilitation entered its second day Thursday. Local sources said about 5,000 inhabitants of several affected villages under the banner of Committee to Save Life and Property began their strike in front of the main gate of the Barapukuria Coal Mine Company Ltd (BCMCL) on Wednesday noon. Meanwhile, some 25 strikers fell sick today and they were given first aid. Affected landowners said about 2,600 families of the area have been living under the risk of land collapse since production started at the coalmine in 2004. “About three-fourths of 11 villages in the area have developed cracks and some 100 acres of land have sunk since then,” said the committee of the affected people. The Committee to Save Life and Property had earlier given an ultimatum to the state-owned Petrobangla to meet their demands by February 20. Petrobangla Chairman Dr Hossain Mansur had also two meetings with the affected villagers on February 19. However, the meetings ended fruitlessly as the Petrobangla Chairman sought three and a half months time to solve their problems. Ibrahim Khalil, convener of the Committee to Save Life and Property, said they would continue their fast-unto-death strike until their demands are met. Meanwhile, BSS adds: The government has decided that the affected people of Barapukuria coal mine will get compensation as per the country’s land acquisition law. “They will get replacement value along with this package,” the energy adviser told an inter- ministerial meeting on Thursday at the energy ministry presided over by State Minister for Power and Energy Brig Gen (retd) Muhammad Enamul Huq. State minister for land, representatives of the ministries of the communication and law and top officials of the BCMCL, and energy ministry were present. The meeting also decided to promulgate an ordinance to implement the idea of establishing a coal mine city in the country’s northern zone in future. However, the affected people will get the compensation from July to August of this current fiscal. To extract one million tonnes of coal per year to feed three (unit three is under consideration) coal fired power plants in Barapukuria through open pit mining, the government needs to acquire 300 acres of land at Barapukuria immediately, according to the energy ministry. Since December last the government has started negotiating with 1,300 affected families of Barapukuria to acquire 646 acres of lands of seven villages in Dinajpur in four phases between 2010 and 2013.