The necessity of quick rental power plants would not continue when launched large power plants, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told the parliament on Wednesday.
The premier said while answering to the supplementary question of Awami League Lawmaker AFM Bahauddin Nasim.
“Why so much talk for rental power plants? If you want I can stop those plants today. But if I do it what situation will be generated,” she said in the House.
Sheikh Hasina also the Leader of house said: “If the large power plants start functioning, the necessity of rental and quick power plants would not be required.”
Nasim asked the premier whether the government would slowly move away from the rental and quick rental plants as the country was not facing acute crisis of power.
The premier said there was no alternative to set up rental and quick rental plants as the BNP-Jamaat had ruined the power sector.
“The country was engulfed with power crisis during BNP-Jamaat rule. People had to spend between Tk30 and Tk35 for per unit electricity from generator. We have improved the power situation and reduced load shedding,” she said, adding: “People have forgotten the odd days after getting good days.”
Hasina bashed a section of her critics for criticizing the government after sitting in air-conditioned rooms.“It would have been better if the government would remain reluctant in solving the power crisis,” she said, adding: “They criticised the government as, she thinks, someone of the section might fail to get business.”
The premier said that the government went for rental and quick rental power plants to reduce the country’s acute crisis of power.
The government has to provide Tk17,000 in last five years due to the rental and quick rental power plants and has to increase price of electricity for 12 times.
The plants of the country have a capacity to generate 10,000 MW power while only 20 per cent of power has been come from rental and quick rental plants.
The production cost for 20 per cent power from rental and quick rental has been estimated as half of the total production cost.
Hasina said that some 62 per cent to 64 per cent people had been enjoying the electricity facilities.
“We want to raise the percentage at 100 per cent level,” she said.
Responding to another question about the violence in ongoing Upazila Parishad elections, the premier said the law enforcing agencies would increase their vigil in the next phases of the local body polls.
Urging the people to boycott the candidates linked with militancy and violence, the premier said: “The government has been trying to hold the elections in a free, fair and credible manner.”
