The New Nation - Internet Edition

THE Dhaka Electric Supply Authority (DESA) has been dissolved. The newly created Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) takes over the entire operation from DESA today, the first day of the new fiscal year. Before the creation of DESA, the erstwhile Dhaka Electric Supply suffered a system loss of 45 percent. With the aim of bringing down the system loss substantially, DESA was established in 1991. This autonomous body had been entrusted with the task of supplying electricity to Dhaka City Corporation area, Tongi, Narayanganj and also to the rural societies at Gazipur, Narsingdi and Munshiganj. It used to draw about 50 percent of the country's total generation.

According to media reports, DESA during its 18 years of life failed to fulfil the tasks assigned to it. Though the electricity supply body claimed to have brought system loss down to 26 percent in 2000, it failed to bring any other positive change. It has now been evaluated as an 'ailing organisation' due to inefficiency and corruption. DESA has created a huge liability of not less than Tk 8000 crore. Due to such inefficiency and irregularities and failure to provide satisfactory services, the government decided to dissolve DESA and replace it with DPDC, a public limited company.

Mere replacement of DESA with DPDC, however, will not solve the problem of inefficiency and irregularity. It must lead to a qualitative improvement in plans and their implementation. The root causes of operational failure of DESA must be detected and addressed to avoid repetition of the same. Measures must be taken to ensure efficient customer service. DPDC might be empowered to generate electricity using, among other things, the solid wastes produced by the city. It should shake off legacy of corruption and inefficiency and render better service to the people.