PDB's costly equipment free for thieves!

A PDB tower (left) with the wire stolen at Premtali and remains of another stolen tower, right.. PHOTO: STAR

There are 48 Power Development Board (PDB) employees including six engineers for maintenance of the line, sources claimed.

The pilferage was done in last several years but no case was filed, the sources said.

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A section of Rajshahi Power Development Board staff is involved with local gangs of miscreants in the pilferage, it is alleged.

Sources said there were about 90 kms of heavy metallic wire (conductor) worth about Tk six crore in the power line. But nothing is left now.

Besides, all fittings including thousands of costly disk insulators, pin insulators, nuts and bolts have been stolen.

In mid-2002, PDB in a survey found only 85 metallic poles and 30 towers out of total 300 towers and poles. A metallic pole costs Tk 20,000 and a tower Tk 80,000.

In early January this year, PDB invited a tender to dismantle the remaining poles and towers (85 poles and 30 towers) to avoid further pilferage.

But the authorities delayed a year to issue the work order. More 38 poles and 17 towers were missing when the work order was given on January 26.

On February 19, PDB conducted another survey and found only 47 poles and 13 towers.

This correspondent during a survey of about 15-km section of the power line from Horogram saw only one tower and three poles against 150 towers and poles earlier.

The power line was set up in 80s. Since 1994, it was not used but kept standby after setting up of the 132 KV Haripur-Chapainawabganj power line.

Some local people at Rajabari, Premtoli and Haripur talking to this correspondent alleged that PDB staff themselves dismantled the towers and poles.

Rajshahi PDB Superintendent Engineer Nurul Islam Mondol said he was unaware of the pilferage. But he said local people used to chase and beat PDB men when they went to dismantle the towers and poles.

Chief Engineer Mosharraf Hossain said he was informed of the pilferage. But they (staff concerned) never filed any case or general diary in this regard, he said.

Contacted on phone, Executive Engineer Mahfuzur Rahman said, "Action will be taken against the persons responsible".