Demonstrations against power, water crises
Thursday, 23 April 2009
FE Report
People at different areas in the capital held demonstrations Wednesday demanding an end to the nagging power and water crises.
Local residents at Adabar area in the city staged protest against the severe power and water problem while a group in Demra-Shyampur area has announced street protest for today (Thursday), agitators said.
The local administration Wednesday assured us of uninterrupted water and power supply within three days, said Adabar Pani-Biddyut Aday Sangram Committee.
"If it fails to ensure smooth supply of power and water we will go for massive movement, Rashedullah Tushar, convener of the committee said.
Under the banner of Demra Shyampur Pani Biddyut Sangram Committee, the residents will form a human-chain at Shanir Akhra in the capital Thursday to protest against the government failure to ensure smooth supply of electricity and water.
Demanding uninterrupted electricity supply, thousands of people Tuesday also rampaged through Araihazar in Narayanganj, blocking the roads and attacking a police camp and two power substations.
The prevailing power crisis has affected the industrial production, commercial and domestic operations and hampered water supply severely over the last few weeks as there is a power shortage of about 1500 megawatt (MW) a day.
The state-owned power development board (PDB) and the private sector power producers generated only 3600MW of power against the demand for more than 5050 MW Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the power division has asked the home ministry to tighten security at the power stations and other establishments to prevent any attack by angry consumers.
State minister for energy and mineral resources Shamsul Huq Tuku Wednesday said repeated tripping of the ageing power stations was the major reason for inadequate power supply to the consumers.
He urged the people to exercise restraint as the country faces severe load-shedding of the electricity across the country.
The city dwellers said they have been facing load-shedding every alternate hour, which is never experienced in the past.
"In every alternate hour there is load-shedding of power. We also do not get water supply. How will we live?" said Farooq Ahmed, a resident at Mirpur.
He said: "I have installed an instant power supply (IPS) at my house. But due to severe power outage my IPS is not being recharged. It fails to give service during the power outage period."
The PDB said it supplies only 1250MW of electricity a day against the demand for over 1750 MW in the capital and its adjacent areas, leaving a shortfall of 500 MW.
People at different areas in the capital held demonstrations Wednesday demanding an end to the nagging power and water crises.
Local residents at Adabar area in the city staged protest against the severe power and water problem while a group in Demra-Shyampur area has announced street protest for today (Thursday), agitators said.
The local administration Wednesday assured us of uninterrupted water and power supply within three days, said Adabar Pani-Biddyut Aday Sangram Committee.
"If it fails to ensure smooth supply of power and water we will go for massive movement, Rashedullah Tushar, convener of the committee said.
Under the banner of Demra Shyampur Pani Biddyut Sangram Committee, the residents will form a human-chain at Shanir Akhra in the capital Thursday to protest against the government failure to ensure smooth supply of electricity and water.
Demanding uninterrupted electricity supply, thousands of people Tuesday also rampaged through Araihazar in Narayanganj, blocking the roads and attacking a police camp and two power substations.
The prevailing power crisis has affected the industrial production, commercial and domestic operations and hampered water supply severely over the last few weeks as there is a power shortage of about 1500 megawatt (MW) a day.
The state-owned power development board (PDB) and the private sector power producers generated only 3600MW of power against the demand for more than 5050 MW Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the power division has asked the home ministry to tighten security at the power stations and other establishments to prevent any attack by angry consumers.
State minister for energy and mineral resources Shamsul Huq Tuku Wednesday said repeated tripping of the ageing power stations was the major reason for inadequate power supply to the consumers.
He urged the people to exercise restraint as the country faces severe load-shedding of the electricity across the country.
The city dwellers said they have been facing load-shedding every alternate hour, which is never experienced in the past.
"In every alternate hour there is load-shedding of power. We also do not get water supply. How will we live?" said Farooq Ahmed, a resident at Mirpur.
He said: "I have installed an instant power supply (IPS) at my house. But due to severe power outage my IPS is not being recharged. It fails to give service during the power outage period."
The PDB said it supplies only 1250MW of electricity a day against the demand for over 1750 MW in the capital and its adjacent areas, leaving a shortfall of 500 MW.