A group of people opposed open pit mining of coal arguing that it will cause environmental hazards.

They said that open pit mining for extracting coal is an obsolete method in the modern world. The method has been abandoned because of its horrific impact on the environment as a whole on water, soil and biodiversity. Many countries have already imposed ban on the method by enacting law.

National Oil, Gas, Power, Mineral Resources and Port Protection Committee organized the seminar titled Energy Resources, Power Crisis and Energy Security: Policy, Treaty, Organization and Ownership at Moitri auditorium in city's Purana Paltan in the morning.

Chaired by Mr Sheikh Mohammad Shahidullah committee convener, the seminar was addressed among others, by Prof Anu Muhammad, Prof Dr Shamsul Alam, Dr Aftab Alam Khan, Mr Enamul Huque and Hoshahida Sultana.

Mr Anu Muhammad said that many top leaders of the government is raising their voice to extract coal by open pit mining method but this method will be hazardous for the environment. No independent minded expert or geologist can suggest the open mining method to extract coal in the country. Many experts, for their social responsibility have alerted the government several times about the terrible impact of this method.

He said that if the government adopts open pit mine policy, the country's huge water resources, agriculture land and biodiversity will be destroyed and a huge area surrounding the coal mine will be turned into a desert. Some 50 crore to 80 crore liters water will be withdrawn every day for adapting the open mining method. The water level of the northern region will be declined heavily and an acute water crisis emerges in country in near future.

Mr Anu Muhammad suggested that the government for formation of a national committee to select a suitable method in extracting coal by ensuring cent percent state ownership for the greater interest of the nation.

Dr Shamsul Alam said that the government has already taken a move to restore the constitution '72 to bring the glory of liberation war back but government also planning to privatize the energy sector in the name of addressing power crisis which is an anti people decision. He said that according to the constitution 1972, the state is the owner of underground mineral resources and the state has to take control of these resources.

Alleging heavy corruption in power sector Dr Alam said that the big corruption is occurred in purchasing rental power plant. There is also corruption in generation and distribution of power. He said that although the government is promoting renewable power to address the crisis, a vested quarter is doing business by adapting the renewable power method.

(Sourced from www.ittefaq.com)