Bangladesh News

The government yesterday decided to finalise a compensation formula for the affected people of Barapukuria coal mining project area by next June.

Meanwhile, hunger strike by the affected people of Barapukuria passed its second day yesterday.

At least 10 people on fast, including three women, were rushed to Parbatipur Upazila Health Complex while 50 more had to receive intravenous glucose saline until 2:30pm.

However, the protesters were refusing to take any aid from the medical camp set up jointly by upazila health complex and upazila nirbahi officer’s office.

At an inter-ministerial meeting held at the energy ministry yesterday, it was decided the government would provide the compensation as per the country’s land acquisition law. State Minister for Power and Energy Brig Gen (retd) Muhammad Enamul Huq presided over the meeting.

It also decided to frame an ordinance to set up a coalmine city in Barapukuria. This city may have a mining university and school and be a home to new industries. The emphasis of this city would be on ensuring the livelihood of first generation settlers.

The meeting was held in the context of on-going hunger strike in the mining area demanding compensation for subsidence and rehabilitation. In the recent years, a part of arable land in some 15 villages around the mine has subsided.

The government last year had committed compensation package for the people affected by underground mining.

Yesterday’s meeting discussed that the Barapukuria coal mining authorities after consultation with the affected people fixed Tk 35 lakh for an acre of affected land. Some officials at the meeting termed the price “high” compared to local land value.

They said the proposal contradicted with the country’s land acquisition law and observed that the amount should not be Tk 5 to 6 lakh per acre, meeting sources said.

The resettlement consultant of the Padma bridge Akhter Hossain, however, supported the proposal of the coal mining authorities. He said Tk 35 lakh for per acre of land is logical since it also includes replacement cost.

Energy Adviser to the prime minister Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury attended the meeting, among others.

As per the initial plan to compensate the affected people, the government would pay Tk 226 crore to acquire 646 acres of land at Barapukuria.