Rampal Power Plant about to go operational, but what about Sundarbans?

Despite all concerns and protests from national and international organisations, experts and environmentalists -- Rampal power plant will finally start operation in December this year, informs Bangladesh India Friendship Power Company (P) Ltd.

The coal powered plant has been drawing severe criticism from the onset as it is being built on the periphery of the largest mangrove forest in the world -- only 14 km off the Sundarbans. However, the government has been rebutting all the concerns, sometimes aggressively, on the claim that the plant will be built with the latest environment-friendly technology and ensure no harm whatsoever to the forest or the rivers in it.

However, does the claim have any ground to it? Will the Sundarbans be completely safe?

In Straight from Star Newsroom, Debjani Shyama discusses concerns over the Rampal Power Plant with The Daily Star chief reporter Pinaki Roy.