Lack of gas puts Sylhet people in miseries

A number of industries cannot go in production and real estate and developer companies are facing a huge loss, as the JGTDSL has shut down its extension distribution line totally. Consequently, JGTDSL authorities are fearing that people of the district would try to use gas illegally. According to the JGTDSL, the gas distribution company has been providing gas to some 2,17,000 residential consumers from 1986. Currently, over 10,000 applications for household lines are pending with the distribution company. JGTDSL sources said as the company had severed its extension distribution line local people are using illegal connections to meet their daily need of gas. To solve this problem JGTDSL had sent several letters to PetroBangla, but PetroBangla turned down its proposals about giving new gas connection to domestic consumers. Apart from this, Dr AK Abdul Momen, ambassador and permanent representative to the UN in New York, also requested to gave new connection and sent a letter to Prime Minister’s advisor for Energy, Power and Mineral Resources to solve this problem and to ease the suffering of local people though PM office refused his proposals. Mohammad Dilwar Hossain, project director of Ark Real Estate Private Limited, said: “We have started construction works of a high-rise project. JGTDSL has taken a decision not to give any new gas connections and now we cannot sell flats due luck of gas connection.” Ranjon Kumar Sarkar, general secretary of Jalalabad Gas Contractor Welfare Association, said: “Over 10,000 applications for new household lines are remain pending.” Nazmul Islam, a contractor of JGTDSL, said: “We have no works, as JGTDSL cut down its extension line and stopped giving new domestic gas connections.”