Power sector corruption

The scheme that was reportedly started more than a couple of years back to improve transmission of power in the Dhaka region is still dragging on with no end in sight. It was, however, planned for implementation very quickly to give relief to power consumers, especially the industrial users. Even after the completion of projects under this scheme, the situation might not improve to the desired degree at the field level because unscrupulous ones are there in the service and maintenance departments. The authorities concerned and their personnel purposefully harass the customers, particularly industrial and commercial ones, to gratify the rent-seeking instincts of their officials. Reportedly, power is shut off deliberately during peak production hours in some industrial areas to arm-twist industrial operators into paying money to these maintenance people. Such people are meant for attending to faults in the lines but they become their creator so that they can get underhand pay-offs for fixing them. Thus, terminating such corruption is as indispensable as building stronger or more capacities in the power sector. Firoz Ahmed Asad Gate Mohammadpur, Dhaka