Environment activists on Monday urged the government to deny India’s investment proposal in Tipaimukh Dam and also the proposal of procuring electricity from the proposed hydroelectricity generator.
At a press briefing, they also demanded inclusion of renowned experts and specialists in the Bangladesh-India joint survey team on the proposed Tipaimukh dam.
Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan and Jatiya
Nadi Rakkha Andolan organised the press conference at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity.
Urging the government to handle the issue
with utmost importance, former advisor to the caretaker government ASM Shahjahan said, if necessary, the government should take initiative to conduct the survey by a team of impartial and efficient experts of a third country.
He said that although the Indian government
offered Bangladesh to invest jointly in Tipaimukh dam project, but if the government agrees, it would be a blunder for the country.
Shahjahan, also the BAPA vice-president,
alleged that the survey committee members from Bangladesh side should be replaced as they had already been accused of being inexperienced.
Dhaka University teacher Asif Nazrul said, ‘The Tipaimukh dam will be dangerous for Bangladesh and it will not bring any good to our river system, livelihood and environment’.
He expressed his worries about the Bangladeshi members of the Indo-Bangla joint survey team and said that the team would serve merely as a rubber stamp committee to approve the project.
Tipaimukh dam is going to be more disastrous than Farakka barrage that has destroyed river Padma and ecology in the country’s southwestern region, said BAPA central committee member Asif.
BAPA general secretary Abdul Matin said that Bangladesh must register its protest against the dam before it is built.
He added that Surma, Kushiara and Meghna
rivers would dry up and Sylhet region would be flooded during rainy season if India constructs the dam.