Disconnecting of power supply to street lights demanded

Barishal Correspondent :

West Zone Power Distribution Company (WZPDCO) started disconnecting power supply to street lights claiming outstanding electricity bills of Barishal City Corporation (BCC).
However BCC official said they do not know anything officially and there is no evidence of disconnection of power supply.
ATM Tariqul Islam, Westzone Power Distribution Company (WZPDCO) Supervising Engineer of Management and Conservation Circle, claimed that the electricity lines of 43 roads in the city have been disconnected since last Sunday night.
The power supply disruption operation started after more than 60 crore taka arrear bills have been owed to Barishal City Corporation since last 120 months. Despite repeated demands from them, they have paid only 9.5 lakh taka on last October, out of more than 2 crores dews in recent months. As a result of this, as per order from the highest level of the ministry WZPDCO started power supply disconnecting operation and till this report the power lines of only 43 roads on Sunday night. Later lines of other roads will also be disconnected, the WZPDCO official added.
He said not only the Barishal City Corporation, but also different the municipalities of Barishal, Jhalokathi and Pirojpur districts also owed Tk 5.5 crore. Best efforts are being made to collect dues from them.
Tariqul Islam said that electricity supply of street lights of BCC was cut off on September 20, 2022 due to non-payment of dues. Then through the mediation of Barishal Divisional Commissioner Amin ul Ahsan, electricity supply was resumed from September 22 with a promise to pay some portion of the previous dues including regular payment of current monthly bills.

He said that even though the electricity bill of only 9.5 lakh taka was paid against 38 to 42 lakh taka per month.
In this regard, Barisal City Corporation Executive Engineer Omar Farooq said that we do not know anything officially as the power department has not told us anything officially. I heard this from you. They cannot disconnect the power supply without notice and there is no proof of disconnection of the power supply to street lights.
Meanwhile, a responsible source of Barishal City Corporation said WZPDCO don’t have as much dues as they show they owe. During on last September, Tk. 51 crores were owed according to their statement and Tk.48 crores according to our statement. Then how did Tk. 10 crores become due in the last 5 months, while we paid a portion of the electricity bill every month.
On the other hand, it was found that the power line to street lights was disconnected by WZPDCO, but later the street lights of all those roads were seen on.
However, the electricity department claimed that they disconnected the supply line, but later the BCC authorities connected the supply line.
But the BCC authourity says ‘We know nothing officially – there is no evidence of power supply line disconnection’.