Erratic power supply makes life miserable

Frequent power failure and load shedding in Shariatpur district during the last six months have affected normal life and production in mills and factories.

The erratic power supply is also affecting water supply in the town, treatment of patients in hospitals and clinics and study of the student.

Local people alleged that power goes off several times a day. The surgical operations cannot be done in hospitals due to uncertainty of power supple.

Production in mills and factories has declined seriously and a good number of industrial units in the district have been facing closure due to the erratic power supply sustaining a huge loss to the owners.

Some fish merchants told the news agency that trawlers loaded with fish have to wait at the ghat (terminal) for hours together for want of ice. The ice factories cannot produce sufficient ice due to load shedding and erratic power supply.

Besides, growers and traders of potato who have stockpiled a huge quantity of the vegetables in the cold storage in the district may incur heavy loss this year for the same reason.

Most of the markets of the district remain closed after evening every day due to power disruption, causing sufferings to the buyers and sellers. In may areas, electricity goes off for the whole day.

There are about 9,000 electricity subscribers in six upazilas of the district where power is supplied only by the two feeders. Demand of power is increasing rapidly but the supply is not increasing proportionately. Officials said every upazila needs one feeder to supply electricity properly.

Local people urged the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to ensure regular power supply to boost economic activities in the district.