Tk 1,400cr mega project to ensure power supply
REZAUL HAQUE, Sylhet
The electricity division has undertaken a mega project to ensure smooth supply of electricity in Sylhet in the next three years. The Electricity Development Board has already sent the project for approval to the Ministry of Power on August 25. It is estimated to cost Tk. 1,400 crore. Once approved and the project is implemented, there will be no problem of electricity in Sylhet, said power division officials. According to the Sylhet electricity division, there is no shortage of electricity supply in Sylhet, but consumers allege that load-shedding occurs frequently. On their part, officials blame it on technical problems. They claim that 1,220mw electricity is generated every day in Sylhet and the average daily demand is only 370mw. However, owing to technical problems, people are unable to get smooth supply of electricity. According to sources, in 2011, local MP and Finance Minister AMA Muhith had ordered officials of Sylhet electricity division to identify the problem. Authorities had then identified 10 possible reasons for lack of smooth supply of electricity and six requests were sent to the ministry. Later, the project was conceptualised and sent for approval. It contains proposal for building and repairing a 33/11kb sub-station, building and repairing an 11/0.4kb sub-station, repairing 33, 11 and 0.4kb lines and having adequate stock of transformers. Chief Engineer of Sylhet Electricity Development Board, Roton Kumar Bishwash, said that the project was undertaken by a special order of the Finance Minister. After getting approval, they would start work on it, he added.
