UNB, Dhaka
Although the government set up monitoring cell in Power and Energy Ministry, no substantial improvement appeared in the power and gas supply situation across the country.
The country has been experiencing more than 2000 MW power shortage and about 200 million cubic feet (MMCF) gas shortage everyday, informed sources said.
The Power Development Board (PDB) officially admitted the shortage at 1000 MW but power sector experts disagreed with its claim. They say the shortage is more than 2000 MW.
In the middle of last month, the power and energy divisions of the ministry set up two separate control rooms and monitoring cells to oversee the situation of power and gas supply.
After the initiative, it was expected that the situation would improve. But in reality, no sign of improvement is visible. Rather, with the advent of summer the situation has deteriorated in many areas, including the capital Dhaka.
For the last few days the city dwellers have been experience load shedding in every alternative hour, in some areas more than two hours at a stretch.
Residents of some areas including Malibagh, Mouchack, Rajarbagh, Shahjahanpur, Rampura, Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Nakhalpara, Tejgaon, Rajabazar, Jatrabari, Mohakhali and parts of the old city complained they have been suffering from blackout hours together.
Water supply is disrupted in the absence of power supply. Dhaka WASA alleged that they cannot operate the pump stations in different parts of the city for a substantial part of the day and night due to excessive load shedding.
Officials of the Energy and Power Ministry said load shedding in the city resulted from the priority attached to the rural areas as per government policy.
“We have been instructed to give priority to rural areas to support irrigation during the current boro growing season. That’s why urban people are suffering a lot this time,” said a top official of the Power Ministry.
He claimed that the PDB has to reduce its power generation because of gas shortage.
Petrobangla officials admitted the shortage of gas supply.
About the gas supply situation, Petrobangla Director Muktadir Ali said the situation would improve from June or July. Some of the wells at different fields will start operation in next few months, he added.
On yesterday, the PDB generated about 3400 MW when Dhaka city and adjoining areas received only about 1100 MW to meet its demand of more than 2000 MW.
Courtesy of http://nation.ittefaq.com
