The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shamim Jahangir

New electricity connection in rural areas has become uncertain for the next two years, as the Rural Electrification Board (REB) has not taken up any expansion programme this year, according to REB sources. further

The REB has already received over seven lakh applications from the rural people for new connections. But, the authority is yet to take any decision in this regard.

It was learnt that the REB has submitted a number of project proposals to the Power Ministry for approval.

There are six expansion projects for six divisions under 70 Palli Biddut Samity, including Rural Electrification (RE) Expansion Programme 1 in Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet divisions.

The REB also submitted another project on Rural Electrification Expansion in Chittagong Hill Tracts Districts to the Power Ministry.

The Government is yet to take any decision on the proposed expansion projects.

"The Power Ministry has no plans to take any expansion project on its own due to financial constraints," a high official of the Power Ministry said to the REB officials last month.

"The donor agencies were showing little interest to finance these expansion activities of REB due to massive corruption of the earlier projects financed by them," he added.

"The REB will not be able to give fresh connections to new consumers from its distribution network before completion of the new expansion programme," he reminded.

Besides, the completion of the three on-going expansion projects has become uncertain within the scheduled time due to lack of government initiative. "The completion of these projects is also vital for the new electricity connection in the rural areas," sources in REB said.

"We will however, be able to connect electricity to the consumers on an emergency basis from the existing lines, if we keep proper maintenance," a REB official told the New Nation.

"The REB has 73,00000 consumers now. They have faced serious power cuts during day and night. The REB is able to supply only 955 MW of power against the demand of 1851 MW for the rural people in last couple of month," REB sources said.

"It will not be possible to us to connect new consumers as the supply of power will not increase from Power Development Board," he again said.