At the Payra Thermal Power Plant in Patuakhali, operations are in full swing. Nearby, the Ashuganj Power Generation Company is busy building a 1,320-megawatt Super Thermal Power Plant. This project covers 926 acres in the Kalapara area, which is known for its vulnerability to river erosion. The government has taken over at least 9,000 acres for different thermal power plants and the Payra Seaport.
On December 9, Prothom Alo spoke with Shipon Hawlader at Banglabazar, a small market in Champapur. Much of his 2.5 acres of land was acquired by Ashuganj Power Generation Company. The compensation he received has quickly gone, leaving him struggling for an income.
Shipon expressed his frustration: “I lost most of my land and now only have half a kani (80 decimals) left. This land used to grow rice beautifully, but now it’s different. The plants are stunted, and the rice doesn’t develop properly. I even tried planting banana trees, but they didn’t produce any bananas.”
Dadan Hawlader, who lives nearby, shares Shipon’s worries. He noticed that the thermal power plant has harmed local agriculture. “The smoke and heat have turned my coconut trees black,” he said. “Young coconuts fall before they mature. This has been happening ever since the Payra Power Plant started operations. Our mango and jackfruit trees aren’t producing fruit anymore, and new fruit trees just die. The summer heat has become unbearable, making it hard to work the fields.”
In Laluya Union, Jalil Sardar also faced challenges after losing land to the Payra Seaport Authority. He sold five acres but used the compensation to buy new land and build homes for his sons. Now, he barely has any land left for farming. “I’m struggling to feed my children,” he said. “I couldn’t keep my eldest son at home; he had to move to Narayanganj for work in a garment factory.”
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Climate Change,Patuakhali,Natural disaster,Economy
