Editorial
Gas supply disruption
Shouldn't repairs be done before widespread breakdown?
It was panic time in the capital on Saturday and Sunday that saw a large segment of citizens buying kerosene stove responding to the announcement of the administration that supply of gas would remain suspended for next 48 hours. Traders grabbed the situation and made windfall profit by hiking up the prices of ordinary stoves. To add to the misery of the people, another report said because of gas supply disruption production of electricity would drastically fall, which would in turn result in severe load shedding across the country.
We understand from media reports there has been a major technical glitch at Daudkandi in Comilla, where pipeline from the Bakhrabad gas field conjoined with that of the Titas gas. The fault had been detected long ago but no action has been taken so far. Now, in desperation, the authorities are undertaking repair work through completely shutting down the lines. The pertinent questions that comes to every mind at the moment is why matters were allowed to aggravate so much that they had to resort to 48 hours shutdown? Couldn't it be addressed much earlier to shorten the disruption period and thus spare the citizens of the hardship? Since gas is one vital utility service needed on a daily basis for urban living, the authorities concerned cannot just shut it down on any excuse.
The list of complaints against the gas transmission companies operating in the country seems to be growing bigger everyday. There is a large gap between our expectation and their performance. Low gas pressure is a chronic malaise endemic in some parts of the city but no long-term solution has ever been given to ease the suffering of the customers. And now the 48-hour shutdown has come as a veritable irritant to the city dwellers. The transmission companies need to address these problems to bring accountability and discipline in the sector.
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