The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shamim Jahangir

Food production is likely to face setback this year as the government is yet to take any step to provide electricity to new irrigation lines across the country, sources in the Rural Electrification Board said.

The Rural Electrification Board (REB), which is responsible to connect the irrigation lines at rural areas with power will send a letter to Power Ministry within a day or two with a request to take decision in this regard soon, REB sources said.

"The demand for electricity is 1850 MW in the rural area. It will cross 2650 MW during irrigation period," sources said.

"REB provided electricity to 2,9,097 users for irrigation purpose last year. Of the users, 27,000 were new," according to sources.

"The number of new users for power run irrigation pumps may cross 35,000 as the diesel price has been raised this year," a REB official said.

"We need Tk 196 crore to supply electricity to 35,000 new subscribers this year. Of the amount, Tk 157 crore will account for the purchase of 45,000 transformers, Tk 17 crore for 35,000 metres and Tk 22 crore for 32,000 kilometres of services cables," sources informed.

"If the government decision is delayed for supplying the electricity, the farmers will face problem for irrigation this year," a high official of REB told the New Nation.

"If the government fails to allocate fund within a month, food production can be affected this year," a high official said adding, "We have four month in hands to go for inviting tender to procure 45,000 transformers, 35,000 electricity meters and 32,000 kilometres service lines."

"The government's delayed decision in giving approval to the REB project may hit Aman production across the country," a official of the Department of Agriculture Extension said.