Gas supply to Rajshahi by 2006, says GTCL

This was announced by senior officials of Gas Transmission Company Limited (GTCL), an organisation of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry at a press conference held at the Nagar Bhaban Tuesday evening.

The announcement followed months of agitation in Rajshahi city by different organisations including political parties and citizens' bodies.

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GTCL Director (Planning) Khondokar Abdus Salekh, General Manager Rois Siddiki and Rajshahi City Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu MP spoke at the press conference.

"Primary work on the project has already started as funds have been allocated for survey and preparing design, which will be completed within one month", the GTCL Director said.

Work on laying the main 90 km gas transmission pipeline from Nalka in Sirajganj to Bonpara in Natore will begin next year. Another 60 km pipeline will be constructed from Natore to Rajshahi, the officials said.

Three 'base stations' will be built between Natore and Rajshahi this year. Land acquisition has been ordered, they said.

Gas supply to Rajshahi, a long standing demand of the people here, will boost industrialisation of the entire Rajshahi region.

Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu MP said a 30-megawatt gas-based power station would be built in the city.

"The power plant project was approved by the ECNEC (Executive Committee of the National Economic Council) on August 15", he said. Many big companies including TATA of India may invest in the region, if gas is supplied and the power plant built, he added.

GTCL Deputy General Manager Anwar Hossain, Eco-Survey Limited official Shamsul Alam, Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) Chief Executive Officer Shirajul Islam and its Chief Engineer Sarit Dutt Gupta were also present at the press conference.

Of late, Rajshahi city virtually turned into a city of agitation in demand for pipeline gas supply.

Demonstrations are being held almost every day. People of all classes irrespective of political affiliations are taking part in those with a common demand-- immediate pipeline gas supply.

Confusion was prevailing among people because of conflicting government statements on the issue.

State Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources Mosharraf Hossain told BBC on July 28 that the government had taken up a Tk 220 crore project for gas supply to Rajshahi.

The costly project involving foreign exchange was pending with the ECNEC and it would take two years or more to begin the work, he had said.

Hossain emphasised gas supply through cylinders instead of pipeline and said pipeline gas supply to households needed reconsideration because it involves huge expenditure.

The State Minister's statement angered the people.

To quell agitation, a government agency last week said that the Tk 650 crore Rajshahi Gas Supply Project was included in the 2004-5 Annual Development Plan.

It said the project work would begin at the beginning of fiscal 2005-06 with funds from ADB and internal resources.

The agency explained that a 30-inch transmission pipeline would be laid from Nalka to Bonpara at a cost of Tk 425 crore and another 20-inch pipeline from Natore to Rajshahi at a cost of Tk 220 crore.

But a top administrative official in Rajshahi told The Daily Star that there was not any possibility of gas supply to Rajshahi by 2006.

"Plan for gas supply to Rajshahi was not submitted this year though it is among 14 priority projects of the Prime Minister for Rajshahi".

Sources in the Western Gas Transmission Company preferring anonymity said it is not possible to take up any new gas supply project as two major projects are being implemented in Pabna and Bogra.

Talking to this correspondent earlier, Mahtab Uddin, conveynor of Rajshahi Gas Andolon Parishad, a citizens' forum aligned with ruling BNP, said, "We want to know government's position on our demand immediately so that we can take our next course."

Zamat Khan, Conveynor of another citizens'body Rajshahi Rakkha Sangram Parishad had said, "We will continue our movement till our demand is met".