The country’s power generation would reach 10,000 megawatts by December, state minister for energy and power Enamul Haque told parliament on Tuesday.
Replying to a question from Sadhana Haldar, the minister during question hours told the house that 9059MW power was being generated by now and 600MW electricity would be added to national grid from new power plants. Besides, 500MW power would be imported from India.
State minister for home Shamsul Haque gave the answers on the floor in absence of Enamul.
He said 57 new power plants had been established between January 2009 and September 2013 with a capacity of 4,432 megawatts.
The minister said duration of power cuts had come down to 90-60 minutes from 11-12 hours on an average during the rule of the BNP-led government.
Responding to Chayan Islam, the minister said the highest 6,675MW power was generated during the current tenure of the Awami League-led government.
A total of Tk 1,207 crore was spent in mineral exploration in past four years, he said replying to BNP lawmaker Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie.
Responding to Makbul Hossain Shahriar, the minister said exploration at Chakupara-Masidpur in Hakimpur under Dinajpur had found two magnetic bands and it required further exploration.
Information minister Hasanul Huq Inu said that at present three government-run television channels and 20 private channels were operating and Bijay TV was on test run. Three more channels – Ganabangla, Diptabangla and Jamuna TV – were waiting for test run.
He also said Diganta TV and Islamic TV had been kept off air temporarily on charge of spreading rumours and instigating sectarian violence.
Responding to ABM Ashrafuddin Nizan of BNP, the minister said daily Amar Desh was not closed down rather its publication had been interrupted by trial in court.
-With New Age input
