Impact of Rampal Coal Power Plant on Livelihood of Local Community

In the local community of Rampal, there are various problems, especially livelihood, that the Rampal coal-based power plant impacts the local people. The livelihood of the people living near the Rampal Power Plant in Bangladesh may be affected by the construction and operation of the plant. Some of the potential impacts include displacement, the environment, health, and employment diversification. Some residents may be displaced from their homes and land to make way for the power plant. The objective of the study is to investigate the differences in the local community's livelihood before and after the Rampal coal power plant station was built. Also, this is to explore the opportunities and initiatives that can benefit both the power plant's operations and the livelihood of the local community. Qualitative research was conducted by following Purposive sampling techniques. The research was conducted in a Rampal Power Plant area named Rajnagar Union. Among them, Twenty In-depth Interviews (IDI) and three Key Informant Interviews (KII) have been conducted to do an in-depth understanding from the people in this study. This study examines the socioeconomic transformations before and succeeding the installation of a coal-fired power plant. The results demonstrate substantial changes in livelihoods, encompassing extensive employment transfers and migration to metropolitan regions. Furthermore, food insecurity emerged as a significant issue, and a considerable segment of the population faced health insecurity. Nonetheless, the advancement of infrastructure has resulted in enhancements in local healthcare relative to the pre-establishment era. Based on the study findings, concerned authorities may formulate an initiative to recover those problems, and these can be achieved to fulfil SDG goals.