The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Repairing work of the 20-inch diameter Bakhrabad-Demra High-Pressure Gas Pipeline at Shahidnagar in Daudkandi in Comilla began after Saturday midnight. This pipeline is one of the major sources of gas supply to the capital.

Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd (TGTDCL), a subsidiary of Petrobangla, began the repairing work to avert any kind of major accident in future and ensure uninterrupted supply of gas.

As part of the repairing work, the gas transmission line is now being shifted somewhat at Shahidnagar. Petrobangla had been fearing a major accident as the gas transmission line was floating on the river for a long time. Because of this the Titas Gas has been shifting a portion of the pipeline to the northern side.

Gas supply to many areas, including the capital Dhaka is being disrupted because of this repairing work. Apart from many areas in he capital, gas supply to Daudkandi, Homna, Titas, Kachua and Bancharampur remains suspended. Thousands of CNG-driven vehicles have been waiting in long queues in front of the CNG stations in the city. TGTDCL said the gas supply will become normal by midnight tonight.

Titas Gas authorities told The New Nation yesterday morning that gas supply was not suspended although the supply was somewhat disrupted. However, gas crisis has created in many parts of the city.

The Titas Gas authorities, however, admitted it, saying that they were trying their best to keep the sufferings of people at the lowest level.

Meanwhile, gas supply went off at some places and high-rise buildings from Saturday midnight. Three power stations have also remained closed for suspension of gas supply. Though some areas in the city have been getting supply of gas, residents in those areas alleged that the pressure of gas was very low.

The residents of Dhaka city witnessed widespread load shedding of power yesterday

because of the suspension of gas supply. Water crisis has also appeared in some areas. Besides, the fillings stations in the city witnessed acute gas crisis yesterday. Many CNG-driven vehicles did not receive gas waiting in long queues in front of the filling stations from yesterday morning. The old part of the Dhaka city has become the hardest hit by the gas crisis.

The Titas Gas authorities said gas crisis has created in as many as 32 areas in the capital following the start of repairing work of a major gas transmission line at Shahidnagar in Daudkandi. During the repairing work, gas supply to the transmission line would remain suspended. The repairing work will continue till midnight tonight.

Engr Mohammad Aminur Rahman, Director (Operations) of Titas Gas, told reporters yesterday that they had received complaints of suspension of gas supply from a large number of people living in high-rise apartments at Motijheel area.

He said though the gas supply was disrupted for the repairing work in the transmission line, gas was being supplied to the capital through alternative ways.

However, he said since the gas supply to the transmission line remained suspended, the city dwellers in some parts were facing the problem of low pressure.

According to the Titas Gas official, people living in high-rise apartments were mainly facing the low pressure in gas supply.

He said the Titas Gas authorities were trying their best to complete the repairing work as quickly as possible to reduce the sufferings of consumers.

Engr Aminur Rahman said senior officials of the Titas Gas, including him had been supervising the repairing work that began from Saturday midnight.