State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid on Tuesday said that the pre-condition of 5.0 per cent solar power introduction before obtaining new electricity connection will be reviewed soon.
"I think, this precondition was a request, not mandatory, from the government to encourage solar power use in the electricity consumption," he said, responding to the request of a delegation from the real-estate developers' organisation 'REHAB' at his ministry, reports UNB.
Nasrul Hamid, a real-estate developer himself, is still being shown as its president on the REHAB official website. REHAB has been the first organisation from the private sector bodies to meet the new junior power minister after his assumption of the office of the Power Division.
Acting general secretary of REHAB (Real Estate & Housing Association of Bangladesh) Sydul Islam Badal led the delegation.
The state minister said that Power Cell, a technical body of the Power Division, will conduct a study on the merits and demerits of mandatory solar power provision before taking a final decision on the matter.
It may be mentioned that the immediate past Awami League government introduced the pre-condition of solar power as a mandatory one for new electricity connection and it was announced through a circular from the Power Ministry.
At the meeting, the REHAB leaders placed two demands of which the other one was to cancel "the interim rate of electricity" during construction period of apartment buildings.
They said that the power utility bodies have been charging the interim electricity rate at nearly double the commercial rate of electricity.
The state minister for power also responded positively to look into the matter.
Addressing the meeting, Nasrul Hamid said he wants to introduce a timeline-based system in the Power Ministry under which the ministry and its subordinate bodies will make their decision within 45 days from receiving the applications from the power consumers.
He said failure of any official responsible in the matter to deliver the decision in time would face accountability.
"My main task will be to provide hassle-free service to consumers and make the ministry and its subordinate bodies corruption-free. There will be zero tolerance about corruption," the state minister for power said, adding that ensuring best services to the people will be his major challenge.
Nasrul Hamid also said he will introduce the "e-office" within next one year where there will be no paperwork and everything will be done online.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
