The South Asia Just Transition Alliance, a platform of green activists in South Asia, called on the Bangladesh government to be inspired by Sri Lanka to exit from the discriminatory power purchase deal with the Adani Power.
They made the call in a press release issued on February 14, expressing their satisfaction and thanking the Sri Lankan government for taking strict measures leading the Adani Group to cancel its 482MW controversial wind power project in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka.
Adani Green Energy Limited, a subsidiary of Adani Group, had signed a Power Purchase Agreement in May 2024 to build and operate the wind power project for 20 years.
The project was approved opposing vehement opposition from local people and environmental activists due to its potential adverse environmental and social impacts.
The Centre for Environmental Justice and the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society, and two other groups of environmental experts filed separate cases with the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka challenging the Environmental Impact Assessment and expressing concerns about the energy sovereignty and its severe impact on migratory birds.
According to a study, 鈥楴either Clean Nor Green鈥�, jointly conducted by the South Asia Just Transition Alliance and CEJ, 15 million migratory birds take refuge in Sri Lanka鈥檚 coastal zones.
The study also found that faulty power plant design might increase floods and affect the 72,000 inhabitants of Mannar Island.
The project might also affect the economy of Sri Lanka.
According to the PPA, Adani was to supply electricity at $0.0826 per kWh, 192 per cent higher than the tariff for Indian wind power ($0.043).
The Sri Lankan government started reviewing the project in response to criticism, protests and a court case.
Finally, the Ministry of Energy revoked the agreement and formed a committee to review the entire project again.
On February 12, 2025, the AGEL informed the Sri Lankan Board of Investment that it would withdraw the project.
Hemantha Withanage, Chairperson of the Centre for Environmental Justice, stated that this was a significant achievement for environmentally concerned citizens of the country.
Hasan Mehedi, member secretary of SAJTA, said, 鈥楾he Bangladesh Government should take similar actions on Adani鈥檚 Godda coal power plant as the unsolicited agreement signed by the previous government contained many flaws.鈥�
He mentioned that Adani had already violated the agreement by hiding the tax exemption information in India.聽
