Tanore (Rajshahi) Upazila Correspondent:
Frequent load shedding has started in Tanore, Rajshahi, amid fuel shortage and heat wave. This has put people from all walks of life, from examinees to professionals, in trouble. Along with this, mosquito infestation has increased.
Locals complain that NESCO (PDB) is providing load shedding 8 to 10 times or more during the day and night and Palli Vidyut is providing load shedding even more. Power outages are happening in the morning, noon, afternoon, evening, night and even late at night. This is disrupting the studies of examinees.
Currently, students are suffering greatly due to the fifth grade exams. Due to the lack of electricity, the exam hall is not comfortable. Children and working people are suffering the most. Due to the frequent lack of electricity at night, sleep is disrupted; in addition, the risk of various diseases is increasing.
Many people are staying outside their homes during PDB load shedding, but it is becoming difficult to stay there due to the mosquito infestation. There are also allegations that there are no effective initiatives to eradicate mosquitoes in the municipal area.
It is learned that two types of connections are used in the upazila: PDB and rural electricity. The municipal areas of Chanduria Bazar and Tanor are under PDB, while the rest of the area is under rural electricity.
Residents of the municipal area, Babu, Sunny, Raja, Saheb, Tutul and Razzak, said that there have been load shedding 10 to 12 times during the day and night for the past week. Once the power goes out, it does not return before an hour. Farmers Azhar, Mansur and Yusuf said that even though the time for harvesting Iri-Boro paddy in the Beel area is approaching, they are worried about the irrigation crisis. Especially for the Boro and Aush paddy in the potato fields, irrigation is essential, but it is not possible due to lack of electricity. The irrigation equipment is also being damaged due to voltage fluctuations.
Local shopkeepers Dollar, Deepak, Ishaq and Hakim, among others, said that while tea was made on gas or clay stoves earlier, now the dependence on electricity has increased. But due to frequent load shedding, the business has collapsed. Due to lack of electricity during times of demand, customers are being lost.
Computer traders Askan, Selim, Rafi and Mainul said that there is a major loss in work due to the lack of a fixed schedule. It has become difficult to sustain business in a situation where there is no work when there is electricity, and when there is work, there is no electricity. Farmers complain that the crisis has worsened due to the installation of illegal irrigation systems and uncontrolled use of electricity. Even though there is no electricity as per demand, the bills are being increased regularly.
DGM of Palli Bidyut Tanor Zone Rezaul Karim Khan said that there are more than 58,000 customers in the upazila. Although the demand for electricity is 23-24 megawatts, the supply is 15-16 megawatts. As a result, load shedding has increased. However, efforts are being made to manage the situation through coordination.
PDB Resident Engineer Amit Hasan Arif said that their number of customers is more than 11,000. Although the demand is about 6 MW, the supply is only 3 to 3.5 MW. Due to this, normal supply cannot be ensured and load shedding has increased.