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Erratic power supply hits Boro farming in Gaibandha

11 February 2009, 18:00 PM

NATIONAL

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

Boro cultivation is facing setback due to erratic power supply in the district. Although it is the peak time for boro farming, farmers cannot prepare seedbeds which is posing a threat of crop failure. Power supply position in the district turned worst in the last one month as local stations are not getting adequate supply from the national grid. Frequent load shedding has become a routine affair in Gaibandha and adjoining districts. Everyday power remains off for long 10-12 hours, hampering cultivation and affecting studies of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinees. According to local Power Development Board (PDB) officials, power is being supplied through five feeder transmission lines to Gaibandha district. The requirement of power supply is 16 megawatt (MW), whereas only 6-7 MW is available a day. Sometimes, the supply even comes down to only 2 MW. Not only the agriculture sector, power cut is adversely affecting trade and business in the district. Production in the factories and mills declined due to power shortage. Local PDB sources said the authorities set up two giant transformers for smooth supply of power, but one of the transformers remained out of order for long. There is no move for its repair, they said. Gaibandha district units of Samajtantrik Chhatra Front and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal yesterday brought out a procession to protest erratic power supply and frequent load shedding. They paraded main streets of Gaibandha town and demanded immediate improvement of power supply situation.