city experiences 35pc load-shedding

The residents of Dhaka city are now experiencing about 35 per cent load-shedding, reports UNB. "The power supply situation has worsened recently with increased temperature," a top official at the Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO) Monday said. However, the Power Development Board (PDB) officials blamed shortage of gas supply, resulting in low generation of electricity and thus deterioration in the power supply situation. "Gas supply to the power plants has declined. We had to suspend generation of about 500 MW plus electricity because of the decline in gas supply," the official said. Official statistics showed the country generated 4,659 MW electricity Sunday, as against the demand of more than 6,500 MW. The DESCO areas received 386 MW electricity at 7:30 pm Sunday as against the demand of 611 MW. "The load-shedding was 225 MW, which is about 35 per cent," said a DESCO director. DESCO controls Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, Badda, Mirpur, Uttara and Tongi areas while the Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) controls the rest of Dhaka city. A senior DPDC official informed that areas under their company received 715 MW as against the demand of 1,038 MW. "Our consumers had to experience 323 MW load-shedding at around 8 pm Sunday," said the DPDC official.