Severe power outage makes life miserable in Pabna
Thursday, 19 May 2011
Our Correspondent
PABNA, May 18: Severe power outage in sultry summer heat has made life miserable in Pabna. The situation is critical for last several weeks as load shedding reached the highest ever, alongside rise in day temperature. This is also affecting small industries. Frequent load shedding for hours has become normal in the town and other areas. In addition to local arrangement, the National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC) controls things round the clock. None can say when there will be power outage and when not. Tuesday, only 5 mw power was supplied during day time and 9 mw at night in areas under Pabna Sales and Distribution Division-1 against the demand for 18 mw where there are over 52,000 subscribers. Thirty-six thousand subscribers under Pabna Sales and Distribution Division-II got only 6 mw during day time and 10 mw at night on that day against a demand for 22 mw. On the other hand, 1,52, 000 subscribers under Pabna Palli Bidyut Samity-1 got only 5 mw to 11 mw respectively during the periods against the demand for 32 mw. In Pabna Palli Bidyut Samity-2 36,200 subscribers got only 2 to 4 mw power respectively during day time and at night against demand for 12 mw Tuesday. At hospitals, including Pabna Medical College Hospital and others non-government hospitals and clinics patients often undergo risk as generators cannot supplement power outages for long. At times emergency surgery are done at high risk, authorities told with FE. When contacted, an official of Power Development Board (PDB) said, the have nothing to do since things are beyond their control. "We have to stop power supply in areas even after midnight. The picture is worse in rural areas", he admitted. To make the situation worse the weather is behaving abnormally, adding to the sufferings of people in the sultry summer. Officials at the meteorological department at Iswardi said, only 68 mm rainfall was recorded during last 15 days of May, which is lowest in 12 years. Normally, 410 to 450 mm rainfall should have been recorded in the district, they said.
PABNA, May 18: Severe power outage in sultry summer heat has made life miserable in Pabna. The situation is critical for last several weeks as load shedding reached the highest ever, alongside rise in day temperature. This is also affecting small industries. Frequent load shedding for hours has become normal in the town and other areas. In addition to local arrangement, the National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC) controls things round the clock. None can say when there will be power outage and when not. Tuesday, only 5 mw power was supplied during day time and 9 mw at night in areas under Pabna Sales and Distribution Division-1 against the demand for 18 mw where there are over 52,000 subscribers. Thirty-six thousand subscribers under Pabna Sales and Distribution Division-II got only 6 mw during day time and 10 mw at night on that day against a demand for 22 mw. On the other hand, 1,52, 000 subscribers under Pabna Palli Bidyut Samity-1 got only 5 mw to 11 mw respectively during the periods against the demand for 32 mw. In Pabna Palli Bidyut Samity-2 36,200 subscribers got only 2 to 4 mw power respectively during day time and at night against demand for 12 mw Tuesday. At hospitals, including Pabna Medical College Hospital and others non-government hospitals and clinics patients often undergo risk as generators cannot supplement power outages for long. At times emergency surgery are done at high risk, authorities told with FE. When contacted, an official of Power Development Board (PDB) said, the have nothing to do since things are beyond their control. "We have to stop power supply in areas even after midnight. The picture is worse in rural areas", he admitted. To make the situation worse the weather is behaving abnormally, adding to the sufferings of people in the sultry summer. Officials at the meteorological department at Iswardi said, only 68 mm rainfall was recorded during last 15 days of May, which is lowest in 12 years. Normally, 410 to 450 mm rainfall should have been recorded in the district, they said.