Sheikh Hasina said: "We need to protect environment,biodiversity and build the country beautifully. We also need economic development and the present government has been working to achieve this goal."
Criticizing the opponents of the Rampal Power Plant, the Prime Minister said her government has taken initiative to dredge the Pashur River and Ghasia Canal to improve and protect environment of the Sundarbans.
"I don't know whether they have any idea about this," she said.
The Prime Minister said it was the Awami League government during which the Sunderbans were included in the World Heritage Site list.
Ruling out the claim of some quarters about the effects of Rampal Power Plant on the Sundarbans, the Prime Minister said, the government has approved Rampal Project assessing all possible impacts on environment and ecology.
"A certain quarter is trying to create confusion among the people about Rampal thermal power plant. But, I want to state that I personally never approved in the past or will approve in future any project that will harm the environment and ecology of our country," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the government has taken highest measures so that Rampal power project does not cast any adverse impact on the Sundarbans. "High quality coal and latest technology will be used to minimise the air and water pollution," she said.
The Prime Minister said her government has already set up a coal-based power plant in Barapukuria in Dinajpur and it did not cast any adverse impact on the environment in the area.
She asked whether the people who are making hue and cry about the Rampal Power Plant have assessed any impact on the environment, area and the people adjacent to Baropukuria Power Plant? "They could not do this as it is the reality that the plant did not cast any adverse impact," she said.
Govt wont do anything that will harm Sundarbans
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