The government has dropped a plan to set up renewable power projects in Kaptai and Mahamaya lakes on consideration of environmental risks.
Wildlife and ecosystem of the lakes might be put at risk if the projects were implemented on the sites selected by Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Despite cancellation of the sites, the government has selected two abandoned peat lakes at Barapukuria coal mine for setting up renewable power plants, power division officials confirmed.
The ADB has proposed to Bangladesh for funding renewable energy project under ‘ADB Mission (KSTA-9628): Capacity Development for Renewable Energy Investment Programming and Implementation’ last year.
The ADB has already conducted feasibility study on Kaptai and Mahamaya lakes in Chattogram, Joydia baor in Jhenidah and Bukbhara baor in Jashore under the scope of this project and submitted the reports to SREDA in February this year.
In the report, ADB has concluded that all four sites were found to be economically and financially viable for implementing floating solar power plants.
Afterwards, SREADA spotted two abandoned peat lakes having areas of 109 acres and 95 acres respectively, owned by Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Ltd.
The coal mine authorities have already given consent to conducting the feasibility study on the site, official said.
After approval, the consultant team of ADB has visited the Barapukuria site last month.
