Gas rationing kick-starts today
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Sonia H Moni
Gas rationing in the country's main export earning sector begins today with a view to minimising the gas crisis faced by industry and households.
The voluntary compliance of the system will start with the RMG and textile units in Narsingdi, Keraniganj and Metro Dhaka-4 zones, said Titas Gas Transmission & Distribution Company Ltd managing director Md Abdul Aziz Khan.
"We have divided Dhaka and its adjacent areas into seven zones like the Power Development Board and we have fixed the staggering system of gas supply with power holidays."
"Under this initiative at least 40 to 70 million cubic feet of gas would be saved per day for use in other industrial areas."
Mr Khan said, "The factories will change their holidays to suit our schedule and it will not hamper production in the units."
He said, "We have divided the seven zones into five sectors to facilitate monitoring. Five committees headed by as many marketing general managers will motivate the factory owners to comply."
According to the Titas notice, factories at Savar, Metro Dhaka-3 and Tejgaon zones will remain shut on Sunday, Gazipur, Manikganj, Dhaka Metro-5 zones on Monday and Tongi, Mymensingh-Bhaluka zones on Tuesday.
While, Narsingdi, Keraniganj, Metro-Dhaka-4 zones on Wednesday, Sonargaon, Metro Dhaka-6 zones on Thursday, Narayanganj, Tangail zones on Friday and Dhaka Metro-1, Dhaka Metro-2 zones will remain closed on Saturday.
President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association Abdus Salam Murshedy said, "Though the step is praiseworthy, it is to be seen how effective it turns out to be."
"Since, we are turning back from negative growth, the clothing sector, which is labour intensive and export-oriented, should be kept out of the rationing system," he added.
Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association president Fazlul Hoque said, "Knitwear manufacturers agreed to the gas staggering system as it is not possible to extract more gas immediately."
Gas rationing in the country's main export earning sector begins today with a view to minimising the gas crisis faced by industry and households.
The voluntary compliance of the system will start with the RMG and textile units in Narsingdi, Keraniganj and Metro Dhaka-4 zones, said Titas Gas Transmission & Distribution Company Ltd managing director Md Abdul Aziz Khan.
"We have divided Dhaka and its adjacent areas into seven zones like the Power Development Board and we have fixed the staggering system of gas supply with power holidays."
"Under this initiative at least 40 to 70 million cubic feet of gas would be saved per day for use in other industrial areas."
Mr Khan said, "The factories will change their holidays to suit our schedule and it will not hamper production in the units."
He said, "We have divided the seven zones into five sectors to facilitate monitoring. Five committees headed by as many marketing general managers will motivate the factory owners to comply."
According to the Titas notice, factories at Savar, Metro Dhaka-3 and Tejgaon zones will remain shut on Sunday, Gazipur, Manikganj, Dhaka Metro-5 zones on Monday and Tongi, Mymensingh-Bhaluka zones on Tuesday.
While, Narsingdi, Keraniganj, Metro-Dhaka-4 zones on Wednesday, Sonargaon, Metro Dhaka-6 zones on Thursday, Narayanganj, Tangail zones on Friday and Dhaka Metro-1, Dhaka Metro-2 zones will remain closed on Saturday.
President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association Abdus Salam Murshedy said, "Though the step is praiseworthy, it is to be seen how effective it turns out to be."
"Since, we are turning back from negative growth, the clothing sector, which is labour intensive and export-oriented, should be kept out of the rationing system," he added.
Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association president Fazlul Hoque said, "Knitwear manufacturers agreed to the gas staggering system as it is not possible to extract more gas immediately."