Now gas crisis hits Chattogram hard

Gas crisis. File Photo
Gas crisis. File Photo

Musa Hawlader, a resident of Askar Dighi area in the port city, now has to buy Iftar items from hotels and restaurants as there is no gas supply to cook those at home.

“I know, these Iftar items which I buy from restaurants is unhealthy but I’ve no other option...we’ve been suffering a lot for the last several weeks due to inadequate supply of gas,” he said.

Residents of Momin Road, Jamalkhan, Rahamatganj, Andarkilla, Pathorghata, Kazirdeuri, Muradpur, Bibirhat, Hamzarbagh, Hillview, Agrabad, Chowmuhoni, Madhyam Halishohor, Mirzapul, Chandgaon, Faridarpara, Bottol Mazar Gate, Ghat Farhad Begh, Bou Bazar, DC Road, Chawkbazar, Boro Miah Mosque, Kapashgola, KB Aman Ali road and other areas in the port city have been going through the same problem.

Residents of 30 wards out of 41 of the Chattogram City Corporation are the worst sufferers.

The gas crisis turns acute from 5:00pm to 7:00pm which is the time for preparing meals for Iftar, said Roksana Begum, a resident of Jamalkhan area.

Officials at Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDCL) said the number of residential clients in the port city is around 400,000. Besides, there are about 3,000 industrial clients in factories and industries.

The total demand of gas in the city is 550 million cubic feet while the supply is only 250 million cubic feet, which is half of the demand, the officials said.

They said the gas supply from national grid has declined, aggravating the gas crisis in the city.

It was supposed to supply LNG gas, imported from Qatar, in the city from the floating plant through a pipeline. But the supply process has been deferred as fault was detected in the pipeline, said the officials adding that if the supply starts within a month then there will be no gas crisis.

Ismail Hossain, a resident of Jamal Khan area, said,” We often hear that the crisis will be over within a month after the import of LNG gas. But days are passing by without a solution in sight.”

KGDCL managing director engineer Khayez Ahmed said the crisis has intensified from the beginning of Ramadan.

Before Ramadan, the gas stations of the city remained closed from 3:00pm but during Ramadan the pumps are closed at 5:00pm.The residential clients have been suffering for the growing demand.

“A letter has been sent to Petrobangla seeking a solution to the gas crisis,” he added.