Aug 19, 2024
| Online Desk
The Bangladesh Working Group on Ecology and Development (BWGED) has formally urged the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MOEFCC) to disclose Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) reports for all energy and power projects approved since July 2007.
In a letter addressed to H.E. Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Honorable Advisor to the Ministry, BWGED expressed grave concerns over the non-disclosure of EIA reports, which are crucial for assessing the environmental consequences of large infrastructure projects. Despite the approval of over 125 power projects in the past 16 years, only about 20 EIA reports have been public by the project developers or financiers.
"Article 18A of the Constitution mandates the State to protect and improve the environment for current and future generations. The non-disclosure of these EIAs is not only a violation of this Article but also infringes on the fundamental Right to Information. However, this injustice has been done in the last sixteen years"- said Mr. Hasan Mehedi, Member Secretary of BWGED.
BWGED's appeal highlights the mandatory nature of EIA approvals for 'Red Category' projects, including those in the Energy and Power sectors, under the Environmental Conservation Rules. The BWGED is calling on the MOEFCC to:
Disclosing the EIA of the approved Power and Energy-related projects in the last 16 years since July 2007.
Disclose the draft EIA reports of the proposed projects of the Energy and Power sector for public opinion and
Disclose the Environmental Clearance renewal dates of the Energy and Power-related projects, including the submitted documents in favor of the renewal.
BWGED insists that immediate action is necessary to ensure transparency, safeguard public health, and protect Bangladesh’s environment, upholding the public's right to information.
N:B: This is a Bangla newspaper. For audience, we converted into English.