e gas connections of many people have been snapped while the connections of some others are going to face the same fate anytime. Discontent, despair and panic are prevailing among thousands of people over this. They alleged that the officials and employees of gas connection distribution organisation in these areas have launched the gas connection snapping drive according to a blueprint to collect bribe. Besides, many are falling prey to the feuds of two officers of Paschimanchal Gas Limited (PGCL). This drive is continuing in Sirajganj, Pabna, Sonargaon of Narayangnaj and Keraniganj of Dhaka. As a result the people of this region have been gripped by great trouble and are burning in discontent. Due to this reason the authority is facing discontent of the people while attempting to snap the so called illegal gas connections. They had to return back from many places without snapping the connections. The demand of the general people is that Petrobangla should make the scope to legalise the gas connections instead of snapping them as they had got the connections facing many hurdles. Earlier Pertobangla had fixed June 20 last year as the deadline for legalising illegal gas connections. Within this timeframe 70,000 illegal connection holders became legal by paying fixed amount of money. But the subscribers who took connections legally are now in trouble. In response to applications of subscribers, PGCL authority surveys the connection area and issues demand notes in favour of subscribers. The officers of gas distribution company make several inspections after the payment of demand note money to the local bank and finally give the connections. The subscribers have been paying gas bill regularly since getting the connections. But the mobile teams of Titas and PGCL started snapping their connections describing those as illegal about a month ago. Two kinds of allegations were raised by the PGCL against the subscribers. One of them is that the connections are located at a distance of more than 50 meter from the supply line and the second allegation is that some connections have been taken from quarter to one inch pipeline. Replying to a query, Petrobangla chairman Dr Hossain Monsur said “We have taken initiative to snap connections of the people who took gas line illegally. These illegal gas lines were extended with substandard pipes. In case of accident, who is to blame?” The gas lines which were taken legally within 50 meter distance from pipes are being disconnected on the plea of short distance. About this, he termed such move to disconnect line illegal. He said “Those who have given demand notes, are using gas connections following government rules and paying bills regularly, on what ground will their connections will be snapped? Even if connections were given to subscribers outside 50 meter of the pipeline, there is no scope to disconnect their lines too. However, no new connection will be given to anyone outside 50 meter. But the old connections will not be snapped.” In the name of illegality, some quarters are threatening to disconnect lines. About this, Dr Monsur said if anybody tries to realise bribe, Petrobangla will take action against him. The matter involves public interest. Violation of public interest will not be allowed. An investigation shows that thousands of people at Sonargaon in Narayanganj took illegal gas connections in connivance with local Awami League leaders and a section of unscrupulous Titas officials. Like electricity line, such gas connections were extended with spurious pipes through branches of trees. Many got into a panic due to these risky gas connections. Ruling party leaders and activists in the area are looking after these lines. A section of brokers are extorting huge amount of money promising to give new gas connections in Sambhupura, Noagaon and Sanmandi union parishads. Abdullah Al Kaiser, former Sonargaon MP of the AL–led alliance government, inaugurated illegal gas connections in many places. Incumbent lawmaker of Jatiya Party Liakat Hossain promised to legalise these connections. Hundreds of illegal connections were extended here and there of the upazila at the behest of the incumbent MP’s order. Reacting to a move to disconnect illegal connection, he threatened to resign as member of parliamentary standing committee on power, energy and mineral resources. Threatening to resist the drive to disconnect illegal lines, he said “I will see who comes to disconnect gas line. Teamed up with you, I will take to street protesting the drive. Nobody will stand against public movement.” Liakat Hossain admitted to have defended illegal gas connection, saying “I am trying utmost to legalise the illegal lines.” But the people of Sirajganj and Pabna are subjected to an opposite situation. The gas connections which were taken legally are being disconnected. Md Rafib, a resident of Baghabari Milk Vita area of Sirajganj, said “We have been using gas line legally for four years. We are paying bills through bank. But these lines were disconnected terming these as illegal. We are suffering a lot now.” Animesh Dutta of Bera area under Pabna is going to face same destiny. He said “I got line following my demand note. I used the line for one year. I paid bill through Bera branch of Janata Bank. Lastly, I submitted the bills of July. Now, I have come to know that my connection has been enlisted by Paschimanchal Gas Company Limited (PGCL) for disconnection.” It is learnt that Animesh Dutta bearing subscriber number 070101224 and Anjan Raha bearing number 070101211 of the area are facing gas line disconnection on the pretext that they took line beyond 50 meter distance from main line. At the time of taking connection, this rule was not effective. Now, such a rule has been introduced. Like, the two men, many people of these areas are in trouble. Retired government official Shahjahan Ali, Siam Ali and Sabuj of Sahahjatpur upazila of Sirajganj made the same allegation that their lines are set to be disconnected although they took the lines following due procedure and demand note. Housewife Sahida Khatun expressed her suffering in kitchen room due to gas line disconnection. It is alleged that the gas lines are being disconnected following a row between officials of PGCL. The people of Baghabari of Sirajganj are the worst sufferers as the list of disconnection is bigger there. These lines were extended during the tenure of the then manager Aminur Rahman. As a punishment, he has been transferred to PGCL’s head office at Nokla of Sirajganj. Golam Morshed replaced him. He formed a mobile team to disconnect the lines extended by his predecessor. Members of the team are terming legal connection as illegal. They are demanding money. Those who are refusing to pay the bribe are being enlisted for disconnection. When contacted, Golam Morshed ruled out any dispute with his predecessor. He said lines were disconnected following specific allegation of irregularities. Zahurul Haque, manager of Baghabari sales office, said “A number of 23 lines were disconnected following recommendations of mobile team. More lines will be disconnected. We received another list.” He said some recommendations were placed to the superior authority explaining as to how these lines can be restored in future. PGCL’s acting managing director Md Rezaul Karim could not be reached over phone despite frequent attempts. Courtesy: Kaler Kantho
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Illegal meddling in legal gas supply:Daily Sun
e gas connections of many people have been snapped while the connections of some others are going to face the same fate anytime. Discontent, despair and panic are prevailing among thousands of people over this. They alleged that the officials and employees of gas connection distribution organisation in these areas have launched the gas connection snapping drive according to a blueprint to collect bribe. Besides, many are falling prey to the feuds of two officers of Paschimanchal Gas Limited (PGCL). This drive is continuing in Sirajganj, Pabna, Sonargaon of Narayangnaj and Keraniganj of Dhaka. As a result the people of this region have been gripped by great trouble and are burning in discontent. Due to this reason the authority is facing discontent of the people while attempting to snap the so called illegal gas connections. They had to return back from many places without snapping the connections. The demand of the general people is that Petrobangla should make the scope to legalise the gas connections instead of snapping them as they had got the connections facing many hurdles. Earlier Pertobangla had fixed June 20 last year as the deadline for legalising illegal gas connections. Within this timeframe 70,000 illegal connection holders became legal by paying fixed amount of money. But the subscribers who took connections legally are now in trouble. In response to applications of subscribers, PGCL authority surveys the connection area and issues demand notes in favour of subscribers. The officers of gas distribution company make several inspections after the payment of demand note money to the local bank and finally give the connections. The subscribers have been paying gas bill regularly since getting the connections. But the mobile teams of Titas and PGCL started snapping their connections describing those as illegal about a month ago. Two kinds of allegations were raised by the PGCL against the subscribers. One of them is that the connections are located at a distance of more than 50 meter from the supply line and the second allegation is that some connections have been taken from quarter to one inch pipeline. Replying to a query, Petrobangla chairman Dr Hossain Monsur said “We have taken initiative to snap connections of the people who took gas line illegally. These illegal gas lines were extended with substandard pipes. In case of accident, who is to blame?” The gas lines which were taken legally within 50 meter distance from pipes are being disconnected on the plea of short distance. About this, he termed such move to disconnect line illegal. He said “Those who have given demand notes, are using gas connections following government rules and paying bills regularly, on what ground will their connections will be snapped? Even if connections were given to subscribers outside 50 meter of the pipeline, there is no scope to disconnect their lines too. However, no new connection will be given to anyone outside 50 meter. But the old connections will not be snapped.” In the name of illegality, some quarters are threatening to disconnect lines. About this, Dr Monsur said if anybody tries to realise bribe, Petrobangla will take action against him. The matter involves public interest. Violation of public interest will not be allowed. An investigation shows that thousands of people at Sonargaon in Narayanganj took illegal gas connections in connivance with local Awami League leaders and a section of unscrupulous Titas officials. Like electricity line, such gas connections were extended with spurious pipes through branches of trees. Many got into a panic due to these risky gas connections. Ruling party leaders and activists in the area are looking after these lines. A section of brokers are extorting huge amount of money promising to give new gas connections in Sambhupura, Noagaon and Sanmandi union parishads. Abdullah Al Kaiser, former Sonargaon MP of the AL–led alliance government, inaugurated illegal gas connections in many places. Incumbent lawmaker of Jatiya Party Liakat Hossain promised to legalise these connections. Hundreds of illegal connections were extended here and there of the upazila at the behest of the incumbent MP’s order. Reacting to a move to disconnect illegal connection, he threatened to resign as member of parliamentary standing committee on power, energy and mineral resources. Threatening to resist the drive to disconnect illegal lines, he said “I will see who comes to disconnect gas line. Teamed up with you, I will take to street protesting the drive. Nobody will stand against public movement.” Liakat Hossain admitted to have defended illegal gas connection, saying “I am trying utmost to legalise the illegal lines.” But the people of Sirajganj and Pabna are subjected to an opposite situation. The gas connections which were taken legally are being disconnected. Md Rafib, a resident of Baghabari Milk Vita area of Sirajganj, said “We have been using gas line legally for four years. We are paying bills through bank. But these lines were disconnected terming these as illegal. We are suffering a lot now.” Animesh Dutta of Bera area under Pabna is going to face same destiny. He said “I got line following my demand note. I used the line for one year. I paid bill through Bera branch of Janata Bank. Lastly, I submitted the bills of July. Now, I have come to know that my connection has been enlisted by Paschimanchal Gas Company Limited (PGCL) for disconnection.” It is learnt that Animesh Dutta bearing subscriber number 070101224 and Anjan Raha bearing number 070101211 of the area are facing gas line disconnection on the pretext that they took line beyond 50 meter distance from main line. At the time of taking connection, this rule was not effective. Now, such a rule has been introduced. Like, the two men, many people of these areas are in trouble. Retired government official Shahjahan Ali, Siam Ali and Sabuj of Sahahjatpur upazila of Sirajganj made the same allegation that their lines are set to be disconnected although they took the lines following due procedure and demand note. Housewife Sahida Khatun expressed her suffering in kitchen room due to gas line disconnection. It is alleged that the gas lines are being disconnected following a row between officials of PGCL. The people of Baghabari of Sirajganj are the worst sufferers as the list of disconnection is bigger there. These lines were extended during the tenure of the then manager Aminur Rahman. As a punishment, he has been transferred to PGCL’s head office at Nokla of Sirajganj. Golam Morshed replaced him. He formed a mobile team to disconnect the lines extended by his predecessor. Members of the team are terming legal connection as illegal. They are demanding money. Those who are refusing to pay the bribe are being enlisted for disconnection. When contacted, Golam Morshed ruled out any dispute with his predecessor. He said lines were disconnected following specific allegation of irregularities. Zahurul Haque, manager of Baghabari sales office, said “A number of 23 lines were disconnected following recommendations of mobile team. More lines will be disconnected. We received another list.” He said some recommendations were placed to the superior authority explaining as to how these lines can be restored in future. PGCL’s acting managing director Md Rezaul Karim could not be reached over phone despite frequent attempts. Courtesy: Kaler Kantho
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