PDB crackdown on defaulters, illegal subscribers in Ctg

The Power Development Board (PDB) has launched a crackdown on defaulters and illegal subscribers in the port city to realise outstanding bills.

It will realise Tk 200 crore to fulfill its revenue target for the remaining months (May-June) of the current financial year in Chittagong region, PDB sources said.

A PDB team, led by its Chief Engineer Liakat Hossain Barobhuiyan, is conducting the drive launched on Tuesday in Mohara, Kalurghat, C & B and Chandgaon areas.

The team snapped power connections of 24 illegal HT (hyper-tension) subscribers and handed 10 people to PDB mobile court.

Superintendent engineers ASM Saiful Haq and AMM Murtaza Ali, First Class Magistrate Nurul Amin, Executive Engineer Abu Taher Siddiquee, Deputy Director (PR) SM Quamrul Islam and other PDB officials are assisting the chief engineer in the drive.

The sources said PDB has Tk 222 crore outstanding bills in Chittagong region. Some of the major bill defaulters are Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH), Chittagong City Corporation (CCC), Amin Jute Mill, Chittagong Steel Mill (now closed) and several other government and private institutions. Their dues total Tk 140 crore.

PDB had set a target to realise Tk 685 crore during the fiscal year (2002-2003) but it realised Tk 500-crore till end of April.

PDB has 3.31 lakh subscribers in the region but the officials could not say how many of these connections are illegal.

Till April, over 9000 illegal connections were snapped, Tk 50 lakh fine realised and 1,800 cases were filed, the sources said.