Northern region of Bangladesh possesses over 3 billion tonnes of superior quality of coal. But in over four decades, we could not exploit the discovered coal reserve. It is my firm conviction that absence of appropriate political leadership in the northern region is among major reasons for the failures to develop the discovered coal fields in greater Dinajpur and Rangpur. We must start developing coalfields without wasting any further time. This would usher in new dimensions to the economic development of the northwestern region of Bangladesh.
AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation, said this in an exclusive interview with EP Editor Mollah Amzad Hossain.
Rajshahi City has already achieved the global recognition as a green city. How it was possible achieving that and what are your plans in days ahead?
Rajshahi is my own city. After assuming office of the city mayor in my first term in 2008, I thought from my own past experience and the then reality that we should change the waste management process of the city. At the initial stage we increased the numbers of rickshaw vans for collecting wastes from door to door. Later after 12 noon, the collected wastes were stored at a pre-selected secondary point in the city. We planted flower trees around the secondary storage location of collected wastes to give an aesthetic look for shadowing the view of waste being looked as environment degradation object. Then during the entire night from dusk to dawn the wastes from the secondary point were transferred to the designated dumping point.
This was not that easy being told now. For this, we had to do motivation campaign for enhancing awareness of the officers and members of the staff of each ward for working in a planned manner. This helped in creating inclusiveness of all members of the staff with the planned action program. Awareness campaign also started for not storing building construction materials along wayside in city areas. Provision for penalty for such nuisance was also introduced. Spots were created for the visitors along the bank of Padma River making these free from dumping wastes. Taking the ward commissioners in the team, public awareness campaign was launched among the school children for making the tree plantation in the city a festival. Within few years, the mission flower tree planting started giving positive results and dust storm and dust emissions in the city started subsiding. This trend is continuing even now.
On top of all, initiative was taken for preserving the ponds and waterways of the city. We achieved success in our mission. Battery driven transports were introduced replacing liquid fuel using transports for reducing emission. Permissions have been given for 10-15 thousands of such vehicles in the city. It has been possible to make significant improvement of quality of air through this action.
Our actions for modernizing waste management could cater for 80% of total city wastes. We have plans to making it 100% soon. We are considering plans for generating gas and electricity from municipal wastes. As by product, fertilizer would also be produced. Initiative has also been taken to develop waste segregation facility like that at Matuaile of Dhaka South City Corporation. These will be reused in appropriate manners afterwards. Biodegradable wastes would be used for power generation and residual wastes would be burnt in incineration process.
Rajshahi city is in the grip of different crisis of environmental and social impacts from significant reduction of water flow in the Padma River. On the other hand, during high monsoon it gets affected from severe flooding. What do you think is the permanent solution for protecting the country from these menace?
A project has been undertaken for supplying of surface water to Rajshahi City Corporation and adjoining municipalities. An agreement has been signed with Chinese government for this. Under this, a project for setting up of a purification plant for Padma river water and supplying purified water to the citizens of Rajshahi City Corporation at a cost of Tk 3,500 crore would be implemented. When implemented, this project would facilitate reduction of dependence on subsurface water use and help lessening underground water depletion.
A request has been made to the government for undertaking another project for the implementation of environmental and social protection. This is the irrigation project for north Rajshahi. Under this project, water from Padma river would be pumped and supplied to Godagari area in the Barendra region. This would be used for irrigation in the entire region. When implemented, this would gradually reduce reliance on use of ground water for irrigation. We hope the government would take up this project.
For suspension of supply of pipeline gas for domestic use, only few people is now enjoying its benefit. Do you have any plan for taking initiative for expanding pipeline gas supply facility for wider section of citizen of Rajshahi?
Despite having gas transmission and distribution network in Rajshahi, only few lucky persons are enjoying the benefits of pipeline gas supply. A large section of the population is currently deprived of such facility for suspension of pipeline gas supply. Access to natural gas for industrial use is also not easy. A large section of the population now relies on relatively expensive LPG use for cooking. Recently, the government has started importing LNG for confronting deficit of natural gas supply. Gas availability in national gas grid has been significantly increased. A government committee has also recommended for recommencing gas supply for domestic use. I urge upon the government for initiating actions for supplying pipeline gas to the left over citizens of Rajshahi. On the other hand, the process for getting pipeline gas supply for industrial use must also be made easier.
Waste management in every city is an issue. Rajshahi is no different for it as well. In recent time energy from waste is a way out. Do you have any such program?
Realistically the matter is still at conceptual stage. We are going to take up a project for segregation of waste. Afterwards we will consider taking up projects for generation of power and production of fertilizer from waste. Our waste is not enough for use in bio digester. For this we have to take up a small project for generation of power from waste. This matter is under our active consideration.
Smart city is a new concept for efficient use of electricity, water and other natural resources. Rajshahi is the first green city of Bangladesh. Do you have any plan for making Rajshahi the first smart city of Bangladesh?
We have no plan yet for a smart city for efficient use of energy and power. We are thinking of formulating a comprehensive plan upon discussion with all relevant stakeholders. But actions are underway for turning Rajshahi into a smart city in consideration of ICT development. Under this program, there would be facilities for centralized traffic control and monitoring, law and order situation monitoring, digitization of customer services for all utilities and bills payments etc.
Northwestern region is now being looked at as potential industrial hub. But for this, availability of uninterrupted supply of quality power and sustainable supply of primary energy are essential. Do you have any specific plan for ensuring these?
In my opinion absence of a sea port in the region is a major impediment for the growth and development of an industrial hub in the region. But, on the other hand, there exists a major advantage for developing linkages with Bhutan and India. The possible railway linkages can enable importing raw materials from these countries and setting up industries relying on these. During the tenure of Bangabandhu led Bangladesh, an agreement was signed between India and Bangladesh for opening a riverine transportation linkage from Bulian of Murshidabad, India to Pakhsee Bangladesh via Premtali in Godabari. Fresh initiative has been taken to recover navigation draft through dredging of this river route. This is opportunity for setting up waterway linkage between our northern region and Gouhati of India. These would enable transportation of raw materials, equipment and plants for setting up industries in the region.
There exists great opportunity for setting up agro based industry in the region. About 300 acres of land has been acquired at Baneswar in Rajshahi for setting up a leather complex. The works would start soon there. The possibility for setting up a special economic zone is also under active consideration. BSCIC phase two project has also been taken up for implementation.
But the greatest impediment for industrialization in the region is absence of planned initiative for reliable supply of quality power and primary energy on sustainable basis. Quality power supply has not been ensured yet. Gas for industrial use is not easily available although the gas transmission grid and distribution network exist here for some years. A large industry here had to wait for two years for commencing operation waiting for gas connection. A provision for bank loan on softer terms and other required fiscal incentives must be introduced here for potential investors. Tax holiday for some years may also be considered. But before all these, required infrastructure for reliable supply of quality power and uninterrupted primary fuel supply must be developed.
New era of energy utilization has been ushered in many modern cities for utilization of green energy through extensive use of rooftop solar plants. We are aware of your various initiatives for greening Rajshahi city. Do you have any plan for solar energy use?
We have not taken any initiative yet for setting up rooftop solar power generation. But we will actively consider the prospect of solar power use taking the advantage of government provision of net metering. There is a proposal for setting up a 50-100 MW grid solar power plant in the Char area of Padma river. We have already discussed with Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi about it. The project can be implemented if and when it gets approval of the government.
But we can initiate the process pioneering rooftop solar generation project setting up such a plant on the roof of City Council building. Any proposal from private sector entrepreneurs would be duly welcomed.
NESCO and PGCL are responsible for power and gas supply in the Rajshahi region. Are they providing required services efficiently in the region?
There are no issues with the above mentioned two utility service providers in matters of developing reliable customer services. But the quality of their services requires further improvement. Sooner all users are brought under pre-paid metering system is the better.
You as the city mayor is accountable for overall development of northern region. For a long time a stalemate situation is prevailing in the exploration and exploitation of discovered coal resource in the region. A new era of development will be initiated if the huge unexploited coal resource can be brought into commercial use. Will you take the lead for it?
Let us ride on reverse gear. I have no hesitation in agreeing with EP that economic development in the region has been impeded for absence of quality political leadership. The special reference can be made for discovered significant resource of coal remaining buried in the region for over four decades. An underground mine is in operation by a Chinese company at Barapukuria. Not more than 10% of the coal in place can be recovered following the present underground mining method. So far I know it is possible for open pit mining from all mines other than Jamalbanj in greater Rangpur and Dinajpur districts.
For such mining relocation and rehabilitation of mine affected community, water management and social as well as environmental impacts management are major issues. There are global experiences for managing these impacts. We must not waste even a single day in giving green signal to commencing mining. It is my firm conviction that for ensuring sustainable economic development in the northwestern region, development of coal mines must be a top priority national initiative.
