Uninterrupted power supply must be ensured for irrigation: State minister
State minister for power, energy and mineral resources Nasrul Hamid has asked the officials of his ministry to ensure uninterrupted power supply for irrigation, UNB reports.
“Uninterrupted electricity must be provided to farmers from 12:00 midnight to 6:00 am to facilitate the irrigation during ongoing Aman season”, he told a virtual meeting of the officials of power division and its subordinate bodies on Tuesday night.
The meeting was held in compliance with the recent directive of the prime minister to ensure uninterrupted power supply for irrigation.
He observed that excessive loadshedding is taking place in areas under the the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board - which is not desirable.
He suggested for pursuing a balanced and rational distribution policy keeping in mind the demand and supply of electricity.
“But irrigation operations cannot be interrupted under any circumstances”, he said.
He directed the officials for strengthening coordination, supervision and monitoring activities in power supply.
The meeting observed that usually a sufficient rainfall is witnessed every year during the Aman season.
But this year abundant rainfall did not occur.
Due to insufficient rainfall in the current Aman season this year, uninterrupted power supply to irrigation systems is necessary to continue production in the agricultural sector, he said.
It was informed in the meeting that there are 4,64,031 existing irrigation connections under 6 power distribution companies across the country and if all are connected, some 2,228.502 MW power will be required.
It said that Aman season is almost over and only 10 to 15 days are now left.
The meeting asked all the distribution offices to keep open their respective control rooms and inform the publish their phone and mobile phone numbers on their websites.
Power secretary Md Habibur Rahman, BPDB chairman Md Mahbubur Rahman, BREB chairman Mohammad Salim Uddin, power cell director general Mohammad Hossain and other heads of different entities spoke in this virtual meeting.