The Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) has sought approval from Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) to build underground transmission lines to start operations of its 12 news sub-stations, officials at DPCD said.
As Dhaka witnessed a rising demand of electricity, the DPCD officials warned of more load shedding in coming days if they failed to build new transmission lines.
On the other hand, DSCC authorities are yet to give green signal to the DPDC’s repeated requests on project approval on ground of city dwellers’ sufferings.
Citing the demand of electricity in city on the rise, a DPDC official said “Funded by A plan to construction 22 new power sub-stations has been taken with financing by donor agencies and the government. 12 out of 22 sub-stations are located across Dhaka South territory.”
These sub-stations can not operate without power transmission line whereas installing a line requires three more months.”
However, DPDC is yet to get permission to install transmission lines, said the official.
DPDC Executive Engineer Ramij Uddin “Construction of three sub-stations has already been completed with nine under way to be finished between next two and four months.”
Installing underground power transmission line requires approval from the city corporation, but they are not getting approval after trying heart and soul, said the executive engineer.
When contacted, Bangla Tribune could not reach Dhaka South City Corporation Chief Executive Officer Khan Mohammad Belal over phone.
“Decision will be taken after sitting with the government’s higher authorities,” another DSCC official told Bangla Tribune.
“Approval has been sought to dig the roads all of which have been given new carpeting. Residents will suffer again if the roads are dug again,” he added.
Asked on why lack of coordination among the city corporation and other government bodies in approving projects, the officials said, “We have tried to coordinate with others many times. But, other service organisations say they need to maintain many issues in addition to project approval and fund disbursement resulting less coordination.”
“As a result, city dwellers’ suffering mounts as same road is dug again and again. There is no remedy to road digging so that you can fix it overnight,” said the official.
Earlier, a meeting on implementation of development project by DPDC at the Planning Commission asked on why these projects went unapproved before its implementation.
Usually approval is not required before these projects begins and approval is taken at the last phase, followed by installing source line, DPDC officials informed the meeting, which was headed by Economic Relation Division Secretary Kazi Shafiqul Alam.
Investors now raised questions on why power transmission does not start despite finishing project works, according to the DPDC officials.