ZCZC
BSS-01
SYLHET-ELECTRIFICATION-COVERAGE
Entire Sylhet to come under electricity coverage this year, say officials
SYLHET, Jan 5, 2018 (BSS) – The massive campaign for expanding power
facilities across the country has brought so far 90 percent areas of Sylhet
under electricity coverage and officials concerned are now expecting that
power connections to reach rest parts of the district by this year.
“We have provided power connections to about 90 percent areas of the
district in the last nine years and electrification works in the remaining
areas are expected to be completed within the stipulated time set by the
government,” said Engineer Md Mahbubul Haque, senior general manager of
Sylhet Palli Bidyut Samity-1.
Sylhet Sadar and Fenchuganj upazilas have already been brought under cent
percent electricity coverage while electrification works have almost been
finished in Dakshin Surma and Beanibazar upazilas, officials say, ensuring
that rural areas of all the 13 upazilas of the district will be brought
under cent percent electricity coverage within this year.
Official data shows about 90 percent electrification works have been
completed in Bishwanath, Balaganj and Golapganj upazilas while about 80
percent works in Jaintiapur upazila.
Electrification works are set to be completed in Osmani Nagar and Zakiganj
upazilas by June this year while works will be completed in Gowainghat,
Kanaighat and Companiganj upazilas by the end of this year.
“Installation of 795 kilometres power transmission lines out of 830
kilometres is completed in Bishwanath upazila and we will complete the
remaining 35 kilometres lines within a week or two,” Mahbubul Haque said.
He said construction works of power transmission lines will be completed
in Gopalganj and Osmani Nagar soon and it is expected that Zakiganj upazila
would be brought under cent percent coverage of electricity coverage by June
next.
The official data, collected from Sylhet Palli Bidyut Samity-1 and 2,
revealed that a total of 2,01,196 electricity connections were given to
subscribers in 13 upazilas of the districts during the last nine years of the
Awami league government (2009-2017). Some 1,13,000 new power connections were
given under Sylhet Palli Bidyut Samity-1 while 88,496 connections under
Sylhet Palli Bidyut Samity- 2.
About 2,265 kilometres electricity transmission lines have, so far, been
set up in eight upazilas of the district under Sylhet Palli Bidyut Samity-1,
bringing 2,143 villages out of 2,345 under power coverage. A total of 1,400
villages were brought under power coverage during the nine-year tenure of the
government.
Besides, 1,700 kilometres electricity transmission lines were installed in
the remaining upazilas under Sylhet Palli Bidyut Samity-2, which brought some
1,019 out of 1,214 villages under electricity coverage. About 464 villages
were brought under electrification coverage in the last nine years.
Abu Hanif Miah, general manager of Sylhet Palli Bidyut Samity-2, said about
70 percent electrification works were completed in the areas under Sylhet
Palli Bidyut Samity-2, but the remaining works are expected to be done by the
end of this year.
People of the district have already started getting benefits of
electrification in various sectors, including agriculture, industries and
education, to improve their lifestyle.
“Once our village was deprived of electricity…we got power connections a
few days ago. Now we can use electric water pumps for irrigation. We’re now
producing more crops using water pumps,” said Azir Uddin, a farmer of
Lamaigaon village under Sadar upazila, adding that his children are doing
better in their study after they got electricity connection.
Sylhet Sadar upazila chairman Ashfaq Ahmad said once there was a terrible
situation of electricity in his upazila, but it was brought under electricity
coverage in June, 2017.
“After bringing our upazila under cent percent electricity coverage, a new
door is opened to set up industries here. The standard of rural students is
being improved gradually as they are giving more concentration on their
study,” he said.
Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury, MP (Sylhet-3), said the country’s power sector
has seen a remarkable progress during the era of the present Awami League
government.
“That’s why the working hours of rural people have increased. Productivity
in agriculture and industries also has increased as irrigation and
agriculture become easy. So, rural people are now contributing more to the
country’s GDP,” he said.
BSS/CORR/MRI/RY/ 10:10 hrs