Deep tube-well users demand compensation

Nilphamari District Deep Tube-wells Beneficiaries Committee president and general secretary Khairat Hossain and Ayub Sarkar handed over a memo in this regard to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) recently.

In the memo they alleged that some officials of the REB gave power connection to additional 1,500 irrigation pumps despite failure to ensure smooth supply to the existing 3,500 pumps.

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The memo said although the daily demand for power is 16 megawatt, the REB supplies not more than 2-3 megawatt. The additional power connections have created severe load-shedding damaging seven motors of deep tube-wells and 300 motors of shallow irrigation pumps. As a result the beneficiaries could not irrigate their IRRI-Boro fields on time, it said.

The committee also urged the DC to intervene and help realise their compensation.

Talking to the journalists, Khairat Hossain alleged bribery and corruption in the REB office. Without naming, he said at least three high officials illegally earned about Tk one crore each by realising bribe between Tk 5,000-6,000 from each owner of the 1,500 newly connected pumps.

An owner of a newly connected irrigation pump, Tarikul Islam of Sahapara village in Sadar upazila told newsmen that he had been harassed and denied power connection for about six weeks until he bribed Tk 6,000 to a REB assistant general manager (AGM) through a lineman.

Both Khairat and Tarikul demanded probe into their allegations.

When contacted, Palli Bidyut Samity (REB) AGM Mainuddin denied the allegations of taking bribe from farmers for power connection. The new connections were given as per suggestion of donors to grow more food, he said claiming that despite scarcity of power, irrigation was not hampered.

He said that as per written agreement, the farmers can neither demand compensation from the REB nor file any case against it.

Farmers in Domar upazila recently brought out a procession and besieged the Upazila Nirbahi Officer's (UNO) office protesting severe load-shedding and punishment to corrupt REB officials.

A meeting held at the UNO office premises was presided by local Krishok Samity president Delwar Hossain.

Speakers at the meeting threatened to go for tougher agitation if their demands were not met within 15 days.