Illegal gas connections galore

Investigative journalism in a prominent Bangla national daily has revealed that Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company, the sole authority for establishing new gas lines has effectively stopped its drives to remove illegal networks allegedly under pressure from politically-affiliated syndicates. The situation has reached a critical stage where organised groups apparently operating with the blessing of public representatives are laying thousands of gas lines to households for a “fee” that does not go to government coffers.
We are informed by Petrobangla that this illegal network spans some 200km to districts adjoining Dhaka. The anti-illegal drive cleared some 35km of lines but that has come to an abrupt stop for reasons unknown. What's apparent is that a section of unscrupulous officials and contractors are actively involved in this scam. Indeed, what is even more disheartening to see is that many connections that had been disconnected have again been re-established.
The country is facing acute shortage of gas. New industries and expansion of existing ones are kept on hold citing lack of gas. Thousands of readymade apartments in the country are lying idle because the government has put on hold new gas connections. And here we are seeing a bustling trade in illegal connections that is compounding the situation, both by depriving the government of revenue, and further depleting precious gas that could be put to greater use elsewhere. It is imperative that authorities do something to rein in on this malpractice that is hurting national interest.