Editorial
Load-shedding free Bangladesh by 2010
A complex issue that will require highest level of expertise
Any expressed intention by the government that articulates plans for ameliorating the hardship of the people is always welcome, even more so when it holds out the promise of relieving the people of the most unbearable sufferings of all, that of load shedding.The finance advisor's commitment to rid the country of this problem sounds very comforting indeed and must be welcomed by all and sundry in Bangladesh. However, one must admit that this is a very ambitious target given that very little had been done to attenuate the crisis in the last five years added to which is the lack of adequate infrastructure that is required to attain the stated objective of uninterrupted power supply and related service, and the lack of local expertise. We are happy to note that the caretaker government has demonstrated its resolve by increasing the budget allocation in this sector by 31 percent. The advisor has come out with some strategies that sound very plausible indeed. However, there are a few more that can be considered which might assist in seeding up the implementation of the strategies. For example the Energy Regulatory Commission can be fully activated, to start with. However, generating enough power to satisfy the current need, not to speak of providing for the yearly increase of ten percent in the next three years is a complex matter, more so since the tenure of the caretaker government is due to end by 2008. Given that the projected increase in power generation in the third year (1050 MW) is almost three times that which is projected for the first year (345 MW) it is essential that all major decisions are taken by the current government, so that all preparatory work can be initiated to operationalise the strategies to meet the projected aim. What that would require is doing away with the existing procedure of approving projects that entails a long tortuous process and imposes inordinate delay in getting a project off the ground. It is essential that the decision making method is not only made faster, more professionals must be involved in the process also. All bottlenecks in the procedure must be circumvented to obviate the shortage of time impacting on the overall plan. But while we want quick decisions in the matter of enhancing power generation we would like it to be very well-informed and well-considered decisions. There is also the need to involve our development partners in reviving the moribund power sector.
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