Sirajganj BSCIC Estate

Gas theft on rise for lack of monitoring, action

12 October 2009, 17:00 PM

Golam Mostafa Jibon, Sirajganj

Gas theft through illegal connections is rising in Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) estate of Sirajganj due to lack of proper monitoring by the authorities concerned. Sources claimed that a section of businessmen of BSCIC estate, in connivance with some unscrupulous officials of Pashchimanchal Gas Company Limited (PGCL), are involved in the incidents of pilfers. They said huge amount of gas under the management of PGCL has been stolen by different industries by establishing illegal links with the main line. According to the sources, PGCL, a company of Petrobangla, was set up at Nalka in Sirajganj with a bright prospects for entrepreneurs of the northern region including Sirajganj to install small and cottage industries. The PGCL then started giving gas connections to different industries in the area. In absence of proper monitoring by the authorities concerned, a section of dishonest businessmen with the connivance of some PGCL staff managed illegal gas connections depriving the company of a large amount of revenue. On information, a team of PGCL officials led by Deputy General Manager Anisul Haque launched a drive in the BSCIC estate on October 2 and unearthed an illegal gas connection taken by A Salam Chemical Industry. The team disconnected the gas link and stopped gas supply to the industry owned by Abdus Salam alias Janbox. But they have not yet taken any legal steps against the people responsible for such gas theft. They suspect that the industry pilfered a huge quantity of gas through the illegal connection since its installation in 2004 depriving the PGCL of huge amount of revenue. The PGCL authorities also found such illegal links at Bushra Enterprise and Northern Enterprise of the BSCIC estate about five months ago and disconnected gas link from the two industries. Asked about taking punitive measures against the industries, PGCL Managing Director Mohammad Ali Hossain said he has informed Petrobangla about the incidents of gas pilferage and process is on to take action against the culprits as per the company's law. Sources however said lingering process of taking punitive actions against the industries at fault would only encourage others to follow the suit and pilfer gas through illegal connections. About the involvement of PGCL staff in gas pilferage incidents, MD of PGCL said he didn't receive any complaint against any staff. He said official action would be taken against the culprits and monitoring system would be beefed up to avert such incidents in future.