Connections of the Power Development Board (PDB) are again being illegally provided in the territory of Palli Bidyut Samity (PBS) in Sirajganj.
A PBS official said the PDB already set up a 200KV transformer at Kashiahata village in the PBS territory on May 8.
“I cannot imagine how they dare provide new illegal connections when for this, former PDB Executive Engineer Krishna Kanti Roy and Pabna Circle Caretaker Engineer Moazzemn Hossain stand-released.”
PBS consumers said they know it is illegal but they have nothing to do about it because of PBS’s erratic power supply, hampering IRRI-Boro paddy irrigation.
Besides, PBS officials take much time to restore power connections, snapped due to a storm or some other natural calamity, they say, adding that one has to suffer a lot to get a new PBS power connection.
Taking advantage of this, PDB middlemen are convincing PBS subscribers to take dual connections in some cases to get rid of frequent power outage.
Around 10,000 PDB power connections have been provided at Sadar upazila’s Kalia Haripur, Shialkol Khokshabrhi and Bahuli Union Parishad for the last eight to ten years.
Another PBS official says at least six power poles have been set up for new PDB power connections at the upazila’s Janpur area.
The process to collect 24 more poles for providing over 100 household and residential connections at Purbo Baoitara and Kadai villages is also going on, added the PDB official.
Besides this, the setting up of PDB poles and lines along around two kilometres past Sayedabad Union Parishad through Chhatiantali on the western side of Bangabandhu Bridge is under process, he says.
The PBS has already apprised PDB chairman, Rajshahi Zone Chief Engineer, Pabna Circle Chief Caretaker Engineer, among others, of setting up PDB transformer and providing connections in the PBS territory, they say.
Allegations have it that over 50 people, including Gasabari village’s Masur and Rahman are dealing with PDB’s CBA leaders over providing illegal power connections in the PBS territory.
About six months ago, over 100 illegal PDB connections were provided at Dhitpur Alal village in the PBS territory, when Tk 8,000 to 10,000 had to be given to a CBA leader for a connection.
About the erratic power supply, Sirajganj PBS Deputy General Manager Md Nasimul Haq said, “We do not cause power outage just for no reason. We have to do it for the proper management of power and that is too with the order of the high-ups.”
Asked about complaints against one or two PBS officials, he said, “The complaints are now with the head office. After investigation, steps will soon be taken against them.”
Senior Deputy PBS General Manager Tushar Kanti Debnath said, “We have already written to the PDB chairman, Rajshahi Zone Chief Engineer, Pabna Circle Caretaker Engineer and Deputy Commissioner (Sirajganj) of their providing illegal power connections in the PBS territory.”
Sirajganj PDB Residential and Executive Engineer Dewan Md Abu Hena Mostofa Kamal, however, denied all the allegations brought against them there.
“We cannot be held responsible for what if anybody stores any electricity pole in front of their house. We did not give them any connection.”
About the setting up of the transformer, he said, “There have been PDB connections at Kashiahata village and its surroundings. To ease the transformer power load, this new one has been set up with the approval of the chief engineer here.”