Gas supply has started in Eastern Housing of Rupnagar in Mirpur of the capital after being shut down for a day.
The gas supply started at around 5:45pm on Tuesday. However, to get this connection back, the local residents accepted the condition of closing 18 factories located in that area.
Earlier on Monday, Titas cut off gas supply to the entire area of Eastern Housing in Rupnagar, Mirpur as part of an operation to disconnect illegal gas connections.
According to Titas, 18 factories in Eastern Housing's D block to K block and Alokdi area were running through illegal gas connections. These connections could not be disconnected despite repeated raids. Connections to these factories of Eastern Housing were disconnected six to seven times. However, later they took the connection again. So, Titas had stopped the gas supply to the entire area.
In this, gas supply of legitimate customers was stopped along with the illegal ones. Local hotels were thronged with customers after the line was cut on Monday afternoon. Local people had to buy and eat food at extra cost.
Resident Sefaul Islam said: “There is no gas since yesterday (Monday). The authorities didn't inform through miking. We have small children at home. We are feeding them parata and bread bought from the shop.”
Another resident of the area said: “Why should we suffer due to illegal gas disconnection operation? Will the government not take money for the time we are not getting gas?”
Saira Kakali of the same area said: “I am facing a lot of problems with two small children. Food for children should be arranged. Somehow we are managing with outside food.”
Titas started supplying gas after 24 hours on Tuesday evening. Titas Manager Md Shahidur Rahman, who participated in the operation, said that there were many illegal connections in the area. A lot of gas was being stolen.
“So yesterday we cut off the gas connection in the entire area. But today we have started supplying gas again under the condition of complete shutdown of 18 factories,” he added.
Meanwhile, Titas sources said that Titas held a meeting with local people including the local representative and member of parliament Elias Molla around noon on Tuesday. Titus General Manager Khaled Hossain and Abdul Jabbar along with related officials were present in the meeting.
In the meeting, the local people including Elias Molla assured Titas of the closure of those 18 illegal factories.
Earlier, Titas had stopped gas supply to Kamrangirchar and Sonargaon on the same complaint of illegal gas connection. According to the Titas concerned, after that the legitimate customers of both the areas themselves identified the illegal connections