The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Kurigram

More than half lakh consumers of Kurigram-Lalmonirhat Palli Biddut Samitee (KLPBS) have been suffering from load shedding daily from the beginning of the summer. As a result, normal lives including business transaction and education activities of the students are being hampered seriously in Kurigram district.

Only one-third electricity than total demand are being supplied at present. At least 12 hours load shedding is going on here daily in each power feeder out of 24 feeders under KLPBS. As a result, studies of school and college students are being hampered seriously. Besides, normal lives have been paralysed.

The production of mills and factories are hampering due to load shedding. The owners of rice mills are not supplying rice as per government order. As a result, rice procurement is also being hampered .

In nine upazilas of Kurigram and Lalmonirhat districts like Chilmari, Ulipur, Rajarhat, Fulbari, Nageswari, Bhurungamari, Kurigram Sadar, Aditmari and Lalmonirhat Sadar upazilas under the KLPBS. There are about 65 thousand consumers of residential, commercial and other sectors and the ranges of electric supply line in 2,805 kilometres which is supplied with 24 feeders in six sub-stations.

Sources said, the demand of electricity of the KLPBS is 16 mega watts in pick hour and 12 Mw to 14 Mw in off pick hour. But only 5 Mw to 5.5 Mw in pick hour and 3 Mw to 3.5 Mw in off pick hour of electricity are being supplied at present. As a result, load shedding is going on in full swing

Kurigram Power Development Board (PDB) officials said the total demand of electricity is 4.5 Mw and 3.5 Mw in pick hour and off pick hour respectively but they are being received only 3 Mw and 2 Mw in Office hour and off pick hour respectively.

On the other hand, District Food Controller of Kurigram Abu Bakar Siddik told our correspondent that the target of rice procurement has been fixed at 27,280 metric tones. A total of 368 millers were contracted to supply 25,227 Mt of rice but the millers have supplied 18,294 Mt of rice till now due to load shedding.

General Manager (GM) of the KLPBS Manjurur Rashid told that the matter of load shedding has been informed to higher authority concerned where as early as possible it will be solved.