In the year 2016-17, the country’s largest solar power generation center was built at a cost of Tk 30 crore in Habibpur union of Shalla upazila in Sunamganj township of Bhati. But within five years, the project has collapsed. The project has been completely closed for two years. In this situation, more than 4,000 people of 500 families of Sahkhai, Dattapara, Mourapur and Agwai villages of Habibpur Union are in trouble. They have been without electricity for over three years. During the recent heatwave, the people of these villages have suffered excruciating heat. Dharna at various places to remove the suffering did not help.
It is reported that many things including the power supply poles of this project were swept away or destroyed in the 2022 floods. Since then, the power plant has been completely shut down. Sachipad Das, a resident of Dattapara, a power-deprived area, said that initially the solar power plant authority provided electricity from 6 am to 11 pm as per the contract. But the pain started soon after the project was launched. In 2020, electricity was not available for more than two hours a day as the supply dwindled. And now the power plant is completely shut down.
Customers of this power plant in Habibpur Union said that many of them left solar power and contacted to get rural electricity connection. But the Rural Electricity Authority also returned them. After that, on October 8, 2020, they applied to the District Commissioner to get electricity with the signatures of 400 villagers. In the petition, the villagers demanded to release them from the solar power project and provide rural electricity connection. That didn’t work either. Meanwhile, in 2022, many structures of this project were submerged in floods. Hundreds of supply line poles were broken and washed away. People of that area did not see electricity after the flood. Habibpur Union Parishad Chairman Subal Chandra Das said, rural electricity transmission line passed over our village. But we are not getting electricity. Solar project worth 30 crores is wasted. We are without electricity. Repeatedly protesting to the authorities, they are not taking into consideration. Last month local MP Jaya Sengupta’s son Soumen Sen spoke to UNO and other senior officials. But not seeing any progress.
Parshuram Talukdar, resident engineer of Dirai-Shalla of PDB said, “According to my knowledge, the project PD Sunamganj PDB executive engineer Abu Numan recently sent a letter to the higher authorities to start this project. In response to the question of how this project, which has been in abeyance since 2020, will be started again, this engineer said, I cannot answer this. to be given to the concerned higher authorities.
GM of Rural Electricity Milan Kumar Kundu said that Shalla Upazila has been declared 100% electrified by the end of 2022 English year. There are no new projects.
Apart from this, the area of Shalla was under the solar project under the control of PDB. They are responsible for providing electricity there. We can’t do anything if supply is suddenly thrust upon us.
Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rashed Iqbal Chowdhury said that the issue of those villages without electricity in Shalla was discussed in the District Development Coordination Committee. In the meeting, the stakeholders were requested to give no-objection to the five villages who have paid the electricity bill arrears. Those who have received no-objection, are requested to provide electricity connection. It will be discussed in the next coordination meeting. Apart from this, I will also talk about it with the higher authorities.
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