Against the backdrop of widespread corruption and irregularities by a section of officials and employees of the state-owned Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company (TGTBC), the government has vowed to take a tough stance against the culprits.
Prime Minister's energy adviser, at a view-exchange meeting on gas, electricity and energy with the members of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) this week, said that a full-scale 'crackdown' on the corrupt elements in the company would be launched very soon.
The authorities are now mulling the idea of establishing a separate marketing company to sell gas. The proposed company will pay fees to Titas if it uses Titas distribution network.
The members of the BTMA delegation brought a number of allegations regarding the irregularities and corruption against the employees of Titas. They alleged that many of them had spent millions of taka for getting gas connection. Even after getting a connection to receive 15 PSI (pound per square inch) pressure, many of them are having only 2.0 PSI and receive bill for 15 PSI. Thus for a single connection, an entrepreneur is paying additional bill worth Tk 1.5 million to Tk 2.0 million each. However, if the meter readers are 'adequately' bribed, the bills could be curtailed as desired by the 'parties'.
A task force had earlier found gross mismanagement in gas transmission and distribution process of Titas Gas. There were allegations of harassment of the subscribers, administrative and financial irregularities in the organisation.
There were 2,006,013 customers of gas until June 2016. The number rose to 2717,536 by June of 2017, meaning that more than 700,000 or 35 per cent new consumers were added to the list in the year. However, Titas officials argued the number of customers increased for updating data in the information technology (IT) system.
However, the fact remains that illegal gas connections are possible with the involvement of the officers and employees of the Titas Gas. The government served a notice to the officials and employees who were suspected to be involved in the racket. It is not yet known if the process of taking action has really begun, as scheduled from the first week of the current month.
The union leaders allegedly formed an unholy nexus in planning and giving illegal gas connections. They reign supreme in decision-making and allegedly fix priorities for illegal connections in exchange for substantial sums in bribe. The trend still continues although the government suspended gas connections to industries as well as households in 2010.
The order of suspending gas connections was, however, withdrawn for a certain period of time when illegal connections were quickly legalised by vested quarters. The suspension order was re-enforced again that still remains effective. A high-level committee was formed to allow gas connection for special cases. Around 1,000 industrial units and commercial establishments were given gas connections during this time.
Now, if the government fails to take punitive action against corruption in Titas Gas, it will be amply clear to all that corrupt employees of the organisation want to make it dysfunctional.
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