The New Nation - Internet Edition

Talha Bin Habib

Acute shortage of supply water and frequent power outage in the capital are making life of the city dwellers miserable and there is no sign of reducing the ongoing sufferings during the rest of the summer season.

The normal extraction and supply of water by the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) of Dhaka are being hampered due to irregular supply of power and frequent area-wise loadshedding. People living in many areas of the city are even deprived of supply water for days together. In many areas the supply water is not only pungent but also murky. People have to go to far off places to fetch drinking water.

Experts blamed the frequent loadshedding responsible for hampering the production of sufficient water by Dhaka WASA.

The present power production deficit in the country is 1,000 to 1,500 MW. There is no sign of any improvement in this sector either. Power Development Board (PDB) produces an average of 3,500 MW every day, which is insufficient to meet the present demand of the country.

Experts opined that the average demand of power is 5,300 MW for the country, but at present production of power is about 3,500 MW.

Dhaka Electricity Supply Authority (DESA) presently is able to supply only half of the present demand for electricity.

Dhaka WASA sources said it supplies only 180 crore litre of water against the daily requirement of 200 crore litre. It could not produce the deficit amount of 20 crore litre due to power crisis.

To reduce the water crisis in the city the Dhaka Electric Supply Authority (DESA) has decided to purchase one hundred power generators for water production purpose.

DESCO sources said the total demand of power is 190 MW and every day there is 80 to 90 MW loadshedding. The production in many industries within its jurisdiction was being hampered for the past few weeks.

It is estimated that out of the total power production, 5 per cent is used for irrigation, 44 per cent in industrial sector, 41 per cent in residents, 8 per cent in the commercial and 4 per cent in the service sector.

Presently about 81.51 per cent of the total power generated comes from gas and the rest from diesel, furnace oil and coal.

Experts suggested an additional invest of $2,000 crore for improving the present power production in the country. Otherwise, the persisting water crisis could not be resolved in the near future.