Take immediate step to extract coal

Shamsul Haque
Eminent energy experts and prominent citizens have urged upon the government to take immediate steps for extraction of coal as it has already been proved across the world that coal is an alternate fuel. Eminent experts on energy and mining, geologists, environmentalists and prominent citizens spoke expressed their views at a seminar titled 'Geo-resources extraction' arranged on June 18 at daily Amar Desh office on June 18 in the city. The speakers stressed the optimum use of natural gas so that the country can move towards the development very quickly. The imperialists are engaged in hatching conspiracy against extraction of coal so that the country leads itself towards a poor country. Keeping the point of future in mind, government should harness the resources like coal on preferential basis and with high importance. 'Putting aside the debate on extraction process, we should explore coal without making any late,' they added.Amar Desh Editor Ataus Samad presided over the seminar while among the eminent speakers two Bangladeshi mining geologists and environmentalists, now residing in Australia, Dr. Rais Uddin Ahmed and Dr. Narayan Chandra Das spoke at the seminar as key-speakers. Former Adviser on Energy Mahmudur Rahman, former Secretary Engineer Kamrul Islam Siddiquee, Petrobangla's former director Mainul Ahsan, Director of Geo Survey of Bangladesh Mohammad Nehal Uddin, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission's Chief Geologist Dr Yasun Akon, Birshesta Abdur Rauf, Greater Rangpur-Diajpur Industry Commerce Development Forum President Nazrul Islam, Dinajpur Khet Majur Samity President Saiful Islam, BDR college former Principal Mia Mohammad Maniruzzaman, journalist Sanjib Chowdhury spoke on the occasion.Speakers have urged the government not to make any delay as 90pc of coal can be extracted by open-bit process arguing that this process is more beneficial to the economy of the country. The reserve of gas will be finished soon. To make sure that Bangladesh as a solvent country based on coal along with the other natural resources, the government should come forward to take massive steps ranging over all the potentials.Former Adviser on Energy Mahmudur Rahman added that coal is the source of 60pc of gas all over the world. So, using gas is more important in industrial belt than that of using it in household affairs.' Every mining is loss to agriculture and environment, so there is no use of putting arguments against the mining', he added. He furthermore said that anti- Bangladesh campaign across the globe should be stopped at any cost. If nothing done for the welfare of Bangladesh so far, how it is possible to announce Tk.1 lakh crore for budget this year. If we are not ready to stand on our own feet, we can't be able to make our country sovereign. The dependence on foreign aid was 42pc, which now been increased to 64pc.Dr.Rais Uddin in his speech said that the coal of this country is the best in quality. In Australia, 80pc industries have been made by the aid of coal. Coal proved itself 'Black-gold' to the people of Australia. In USA, 50pc industrial development has been accomplished by coal.Dr. Narayan Chandra Das in his speech said that water management is very essential in the case of coalmining. But in the case of Bangladesh, keeping the quality of water, air and forest is not a key matter at all. Water reservation facility can be created easily Engineer Kamrul Islam Siddiquee said that we have been suffering from indecision that causes a great loss to the nation. Once it was announced that 1 lakh ton of coal would be extracted from the Barapukuria coalmine, now the extraction is at 30 to 40 thousand ton only. The process of underground mining is full of problems and hindrances. So the open-pit option is more pragmatic.Other speakers added that there is no need to indulge in politics in the case of coal mining. The president of the seminar, Amar Desh Editor Ataus Samad in his concluding speech said the uniformity in thinking is very essential to explore coal along with the other natural resources.

Weekly Economic Times
22/06/08
Link:http://www.weeklyeconomictimes.com/news-details.php?recordID=1132