Load-shedding disrupts normal life in Jhenidah villages

JHENIDAH, Sept 20:  Electricity consumers under Jhenidah Palli Biddyut Samity (PBS) have started experiencing acute load-shedding, which is disrupting normal life seriously in the rural areas over the last fortnight.
Sagor Mia (25), a commercial generator operator at Nagorbathan bazaar in Jhenidah Sadar Upazila told this correspondent that load-shedding occurs minimum 8-10 times in their area, and they experience power cuts for around 12-13 hours a day.
Shamima Jesmin, a housewife at Bhalki village under Harinakundu Upazila said due to fusty heat coupled with power-interruptions life has become tough and people; especially minor children are falling victims to sickness.
Shamimul Islam Shahin (32) at Monoharpur village in Shailkupa Upazila said education of students is being vastly hampered because of intense load-shedding.
 "Junior Certificate Exam (JSC) and Primary Certificate Exam (PSC) are knocking at the door. Both guardians and teachers apprehend that a catastrophe would befall upon the results of the examinees this year due to intense power-suspension, said Md Zakaria, a teacher.   
Jhenidah PBS official sources said at present, the capacity of the six substations under Jhenidah PBS is 60 Mega Volt Ampere (MVA).
The PBS requires 42 Megawatts (MW) power and against the quantity, it now gets only 17-19 MW, which results in intolerable sufferings of the consumers under the samity. And against the demand of 20-22 MW during the off-peak period (7 am-5 pm), the PBS receives 13-14 MW power.
According to an official source in Jhenidah PBS, average load-shedding per consumer everyday is 6.5-7.5 hours.
Gas which is being used for producing fertiliser is required for generating electricity too. As generation of electricity is gas-dependent to a great extent in our country and supply of gas is not sufficient to generate electricity, persistent load-shedding is happening, Jhenidah PBS said.
Up to August 2014, there are 1,39006 consumers under Jhenidah PBS and of a total of 4,091 kilometres constructed line, 3768 km has been electrified.
A reliable source in the PBS said this situation of load-shedding will continue for 30-45 more days.