Employees oppose proposed co, threaten movement

The defaulters include government, semi- government and private institutions.

Of the total amount, government and semi- government institutions owe Tk 190 crore.

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The bills remained unrealised despite repeated remainders and warnings, PDB's Khulna Zone Chief Engineer Mohammod Abdullah told The Daily Star. Political pressure and influence are creating serious problems in realisation of outstanding bills. Besides, shortage of manpower and bureaucratic tangles are also major factors in his regard, he said.

Abdullah said PDB has 3,17,135 consumers in its Khulna zone, of which, 2,43,306 are domestic consumers, 59,000 commercial enterprises and 8,000 small industries. Besides, there are 510 other consumers under the Palli Biddut Samity (rural electrification association).

Outstanding bills lying only with jute mills stand at Tk 107.13 crore.

The Khulna City Corporation is showing no tendency to pay Tk 27 crore bills despite reminders time and again, the chief engineer said.

PDB men face unpleasant situation when they snap electricity lines of defaulters. Political pressure and threats force them to restore snapped lines, he said.

He said Tk 362.49 crore bills were realised from the Khulna zone in last eleven months of the current fiscal year.

The chief engineer said a 'power distribution company' covering the 15 districts in PDB's western zone will be formed soon to improve power supply and realisation of bills. Preparations in this regard are under way.

But employees under the Khulna zone have threatened of movement if the company is created. The west zone reels under constant loadshedding.