The New Nation - Internet Edition

THE special assistant in charge of the energy has been assuring people from time to time about relief from their agonies related to the poor power supply position. Residents of Dhaka city and other urban areas who are habituated to be heavy users of electricity but have been facing great difficulties due to its inadequate supply, were somewhat happy to learn from a statement more than a month ago that their distresses would soon be over significantly.

He informed that the reduced supply of electricity to urban areas due to its greater diversion to rural areas for irrigation needs, would come to an end from early May as supplies of electricity would be redirected towards the cities following the end of the Boro season when the need to run irrigation pumps would be minimal. But farmers have nearly reaped the boro crops and the need to water their lands with irrigation pumps has ceased. But supply of power is seen to be worse in the urban areas.

At least some hours of load shedding free period of bliss used to be experienced by most of Dhaka's residents from midnight till the early morning before May. So, people could pass the night in relative comfort. But now they are facing horrors from summer heat and darkness as power shut-offs are suffered for long periods frequently after midnight. More disquieting has been recent newspaper reports that the urgently set up rental power plants to add at least 240 megawatt to the grid by May, would not become operational by the current month as required under contract. The deadline is about to expire but none can say when these could go into operation. The government should take account of persons in positions of responsibility for their awful inefficiency and sloth.