SAVE SONDARBAN STOP RAMPAL

To save Sundarban – the largest mangrove forest of the world and home of the Royal Bengal Tigers.The Bangladesh government fixed the project area without any economical benefit, technical feasibility, and social and environmental impact study. Later, an eyewash study in the name of initial environmental examination was done by the Centre for Environmental and Geographical Information Services, to get environmental clearance. And recently Department of Environment has issued environmental clearance for the project on Bangladesh soil, apparently in India’s interest. Impacts at the construction phase will include visual intrusion, local air pollution due to generation of dust particles and emissions from engine vehicles, noise from machinery and engine vehicles, and deterioration of groundwater quality causing groundwater draw-downing, including excess mining of the groundwater may drawdown the groundwater level, too. The World Heritage List includes the Sundarbans of Bangladesh (UNESCO).

Sundarban is the world’s largest mangrove forest and a UNESCO world’s heritage site. This proposed power plant is going to be built within 14 km of the forest, more precisely just 9km away from many reserved sections of the forest. This will definitely have a devastating and irreversible impact on the Sundarbans, its ecology and biodiversity.
For establishing this 1320 Megawatt power plant, Bangladesh will need to import about 4.72 million tons of coal each year. This massive freight will need about 59 ships each having an 80,000 ton capacity that take to the port which is 40 Kilometers away from the plant and its route cuts through the Sundarbans.
The scale of impact is beyond doubt and that has stirred the local dwellers and environmental activists to stop this dangerous project. Many esteemed organisations, political parties and national leaders have spoken against the Rampal plant. The message has been simple – “There are many alternatives to generate power, but Sundarbans has no alternative”.
We need you to join the struggle and build international support to stop the Rampal plant, demand alternative energy and preserve the beautiful forests of the Sundarbans.