Power disconnection creates water crisis

Power Development Board (PDB) of Bogra has disconnected power connection to municipality buildings, water pumps and road lights under the municipality because it has not paid the electricity bill of around Tk 17 crore.

As a result, the people of the town, commuters and thousands of users of nine water pumps under the town are suffering a lot.

On a visit to Bogra town on Monday morning, this correspondent saw officials and employees of PDB supply and sale 1, 2, and 3 disconnecting power connections at Jaleshwaritola, Rahmannagar, Nur Mosque road, Malotinagar, Jahurulnagar, Badurtola, Jhaotola, Sherpur road, Namajgor, Dottobari, Katnarpara, Choksutrapur and surrounding areas.

About 3,200 users of the pumps have been suffering greatly due to the disconnection of electricity to the water pumps.

Abdul Kader, a resident of Jaleshwaritola area, said the department disconnected his power line without giving notice.

Sushmita Rani, a housewife of Dottobari area, said their connection was cut-off because of dues for the last few months.

Tofazzal Hossain Pramanik, executive engineer of power supply and sale-2, said the water pumps owed his department around Tk 7.35 crore, which forced PDB to cut power connection to them.

Repeated requests have made to the mayor about payment of the huge electricity bill of the 9- km-long Bonani-Matidali road and 3-km-long Shatmatha-Tinmatha road lights of the town, which have also remained unpaid for a long time, the Ex.En added.

AKM Mahabubur Rahman, mayor of Bogra Municipality, said his office paid Tk 1.2 crore, and they will pay the due bill in installments from July.

The power department has issued some inflated bills to the municipality, causing sufferings of the inhabitants of the town before Eid. They also cut the line to his office, though they paid the bill, alleged the mayor.