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Sulphur-rich imported coal polluting air

Jasim Uddin Khan
The import of substandard Indian coal is being sanctioned by the government even though the polluting fossil fuel exceeds the sulphur level set by the government itself.
Overlooking the negative impact it has on the environment and ignoring the import policy that does not approve coal containing over 1 percent sulphur, the government has repeatedly suspended the import restriction
on coal that that does not comply with the country's standards.
The government in an inter-ministerial meeting held at commerce ministry recently has once again suspended the restriction till June 30, 2008. This is the eighth time the government suspended the restriction on coal that contains over 1 percent sulphur.
This suspension in fact gives Indian coal exporters, mostly from Meghalaya, a commanding lead over other coal producers
across the globe. As a result, the country is being flooded with the cheap and environmentally hazardous Indian coal, observed industry experts.
Brick manufacturing and steel re-rolling plants in the country use around 7 million tonnes of coal annually, said industry sources.
The experts said even though the country has the potential to meet internal demands from sev-eral coalmines including Barapukuriacoal mine, the policy makers of the country are not putting the emphasis on increasing production capacity at these coalmines.
The government should also consider providing financial incentives in terms of duty cut or subsidy to the importers when they import environment-friendly coal from countries other than India, added the experts.
A high official at the commerce ministry said, "As a matter of fact, the government is in a precarious position in meeting the local demand of coal. The businesses should explore alternative import sources.’
The government is caught in a dilemma -- if it enforces the import restriction, there will be a coal shortage in the country, compelling the brick manufacturers burn trees at their kilns, he said adding that if it lifts the restriction permanently, the environment of the country will be harmed.
Maizuddin Ahmed, president of Bangladesh Brick Manufacturing Owners' Association, said the coal market in the country is heavily depend-enton India.
Coal importers of the country made an attempt to import coal from Australia and Indonesia in 1995 when Indian coal producers reacted with a significant price cut, luring the importers to continue importing from India, he said’addmg/'Noneb/tfie importers imported coal from other countries ever since."
Anamul Hoq Iqbal, chairman of Saleh Steel Industries Ltd. said, "We all are aware that the use of harmful coal is harming our environment." To save the environment, the government should subsidise the import of coal from countries other than India.
Brick manufacturers and steel re-rolling mill owners urged the government to take steps so that they can procure better quality coal from domestic coal mines including the Barapukuria coal mine.