The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The government will supply 1,664MW of additional electricity to Boro farmers in coming season.

The decision came at a meeting yesterday held in the Secretariat, presided over by Prime Minister Adviser's Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury Bir Bikram.

Power Division Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, Energy Division Secretary Mohammed Mohsin, Petrobangla Chairman Prof Hossain Monsoor, Power Development Board Chairman ASM Alamgir Kabir, Rural Electrification Board (REB) Chairman Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam were present.

The allocation of the electricity for boro farming is 94MW higher this year compared to last year. The government has already allocated Tk 242 crore to REB for procurement of equipment to connect electricity for irrigation.

The REB will provide electricity connectivity to 2.46 lakh deep and shallow tube-wells for irrigation this year,sources said.

Talking to reporters, Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury said that the Power Division would impose load shedding between 12pm and 6am in the city areas to ensure electricity for irrigation. He said that the Power Division would start a campaign to save electricity.

ASM Alamgir Kabir said that the demand for electricity for irrigation has been increasing by 7-8 per cent per year. "So the electricity demand for irrigation will be 1300MW in next boro season," he said.

A Joint Secretary-level official will monitor the supply of electricity in boro season, he said adding that the REB would complete installation a nd distribution lines and renovation the existing lines within December to ensure electricity for irrigation. He said that the PDB would able to supply 200MW of electricity from rental power plants.

Mohammed Mohsin said that the demand of diesel has increased gradually during irrigation season. "We will launch control room to ensure diesel supply for irrigation," he said.

The Ministry of Agriculture has targeted to produce 1.70 crore tons of Boro paddy in coming season.