The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

A monitoring committee will be formed to oversee the operation of shopping malls after 8 pm in and outside the capital, as the government tosses all means to tackle unrelenting electricity crunch.

State Minister for Power and Energy Shamsul Haque Tuku on Monday disclosed the government plan at Bangladesh Secretariat, saying that the special measures will be taken if any businesses are found open violating the rule.

He informed that about 200 megawatts of electricity has been saved through the daylight-saving measure which advanced the day time by an hour. In the capital, the saving is 90 MW.

"Now, people can utilise daylight more for work and everybody feels comfort with the timeframe," he said, evaluating the impact of the Daylight Saving Time (DST), introduced through a June 19 midnight ceremony at state level.

The minister said that the changes might take place in school timings to adjust to the new clock time with a view to reducing the traffic congestion in the city.

However, despite the austerity measure, residents in different areas of the capital city reportedly continued to feel the power crunch for outages several times a day amid the current hot and humid weather.

Monitoring operation of power stations and substations is suggested by various circles as part of the crash course.

Sources said that the power-supply situation remained as usual in the city. Many areas in the city still have to face 5 to 6 hours of load shedding in different spells at day and night.

The situation in the rural areas is worse even as the rural people have to experience 12-15 hours of blackout.

The country Monday generated about 3,775 MW at the peak hours against a known demand for about 5,500 MW-a hiatus created by longtime neglect of the vital sector over the years.