The energy ministry has formed a nine-member committee to monitor issuing of fresh gas connections. The ministry’s additional secretary has been made the convener of the monitoring panel, comprising members from all six managers (admin) of the gas distributing agencies, and the director (admin) of Petrobangla. “This committee will work specifically on some issues, including identifying the number of illegal connections, identifying the numbers of the consumers who were already given the demand note. It will also ask Petrobangla to submit a report on the required amount of gas, under the existing distribution and transmission network,” additional secretary of the energy ministry said.
The ministry, in an order, resumed issuing gas connections, following the directives from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on Tuesday, after a gap of three years since June 2009.
Energy secretary Mozammel Hoque said the Prime Minister has given some specific directives to offer new gas connections. Accordingly, the energy ministry has formed the scrutiny committee on Wednesday.
Petrobangla chairman Dr. Hossain Monsur said, “The committee will create serious problem in implementing Prime Minister’s directives, as the post of the chairman of the board of the distributing company is held by either the secretary or the additional secretary. So, how will they work, who is under whom,” he asked.
“The issue should be addressed by the operating agency and the ministry will discuss the policy matter, but, unfortunately, the ministry wants to intervene,” he added.
Earlier, energy secretary Mozammel Hoque said that among the household consumers who paid required money and received demand notes will get the priority in getting connections.
He also added that those who have illegal connections and also taken new connections illegally, will have to pay penalty first and then regularise their connections.
After that those consumers who have been living within the gas distribution network will get the connection. “But no new distribution line will be installed to provide new connections,” said Haque.
The new connections will be provided up to 15 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmcfd) consumed. Energy Ministry officials believe that real-estate business will be most benefited by the new decision as thousands of new apartment remained unsold for lack of gas connections in Dhaka, Chittagong and other major cities.
Earlier, Petrobangla found that around 10 mmcf gas is being drawn illegally from the national grid, every day.
The state-run organisation also identified as many as 117,414 consumers who are enjoying such illegal benefits. A section of corrupt officials and employees is helping consumers to get the facilities from the distribution agencies.
Petrobangla chairman Dr Hossain Monsur alleged that over 117,414 domestic connections have been given in the Titas gas distribution and transmission area against the authority’s decision in the last two-and-a-half years.
“The Titas authorities collected Tk. 200 crore as bills from 57,414 illegal connections. We found that about 60,000 consumers are not paying any money for gas consumption,” he added.
-With The Independent input
