CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh, Nov 6 (BSS)- Experts has primarily rojected a possible deposit of coal in the hilly areas of Patiya and Chandanish suggesting immediate exploration of the resources.

The experts of Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX) told BSS that there is every possibility that there is existence of coal along the five kilometers hilly stretch in the eastern side of Patiya and Chandanaish.

The sources said coal that was in the form of rocky soil structure has been detected in the early seventies in these hilly areas, has turned into coal during the last four decades.

Manager (Geology) of BAPEX Alamgir Hosain told BSS that there is no doubt about the existence of coal in those hilly areas of the district.

But the total quantity as well as quality of coal could not be ascertained without proper exploration, he added.

The BAPEX would seek permission from the Petrobangla for conducting laboratory experiments about the coal deposits in the hilly areas to become fully assured in this regard.

Mohammad Ali, Chairman of Hashimpur Union Parishad under Chandanish, said a survey was carried out in the area by the
initiative of the Ministry of Mineral Resources in 1972-73, just after the War of Liberation.

The then survey members told us that the coal deposits in the areas are still at an stage of formation. It would require more 32 or 33 years to extractable while 37 years have already been passed since the survey, he said.

Professor Abdul Haque of the Department of Geography and
Environment of Chittagong University Prof Haque said proper
initiative should be taken for collecting the coal after
conducting a fresh survey in the area with a view to easing the
existing fuel crisis in the country.