RAJSHAHI, June 28: The life of people at grassroots level in the district is changing after they come in touch with electric power in the region.
The life of rural people is becoming easier and simpler. Besides, business is expanding, and many employment opportunities are being created.
Even char people are not deprived of the blessings of electricity. Their lifestyle has also changed with the touch of electricity.
Authority concerned said all the people of the district will come under electricity this year. Of the nine upazilas, seven have got hundred per cent electric supplies. The rest two upazilas will come under electric supply by this year.
At least 99 per cent people have come under electricity. The rest of the people will get electricity supply by this year.
Northern Electricity Supply Company (NESCO) supplies electricity to Rajshahi City areas including Godagari, Tanore and Paba upazilas of the district. Palli Bidyut is supplying electricity to the rest upazilas.
NESCO not only supplies electricity, it also plans to increase customer service. It is changing the billing system through its modernisation and other developmental works.
NESCO will start 5 lakh smart pre-paid metres in 16 districts of Rajshahi and Rangpur districts by 2020. The metre will be set up in district level first and then at upazila level.
Chief Engineer (Distribution Zone) of NESCO Hasina Dilruba said NESCO has taken initiative to set up smart pre-paid metre so that the customers don't have to face any challenge. Customers can check the electricity bills by themselves and will not face any problem related to metre reading.
He also said electricity will be supplied as per the demand of the customers.
Sometimes electric supply is stopped in some areas for repair works. The authority concerned informs the dwellers about this through various media.
Of the areas under Palli Bidyut Samity (PBS), 100 per cent electricity could not be ensured only in Bagmara Upazila. At least 96 per cent area of the upazila has come under electric supply.
Deputy General Manager (DGM) of Bagmara Zonal Office Rezaul Karim said, the whole upazila will come under electric supply by September.
He said that since Bagmara is a big upazila, 100 per cent electric supply could not be ensured. By September, they will bring the upazila under 100 per cent electricity.
Hundred per cent electricity has been ensured at Puthia Upazila of the district.
DGM of Puthia Zonal Office of Natore PBS-2 SM Nasir Uddin said there is no load-shedding in the upazila.
Electricity supply is shut for a few hours for development work and mechanical error in the upazila. Developmental work is going on on a regular basis in the upazila.
Villages under Bausa Union and Arani Municipality of Bagha Upazila and Charghat Upazila get electricity through the Charghat Zonal office under Natore PBS-2.
Charghat Upazila came under 100 per cent electric supply since November 1, 2018.
DGM of Charghat Zone Md Moktar Hossain said the upazila gets electricity as per the demand. There is no load-shedding in the upazila.
For developmental work and mechanical error, electric supply gets interrupted sometimes. When the electric poles are uprooted during natural disaster, they have to do repair work keeping the electricity off.
Assistant General Manager (AGM) of Bagha sub-zonal office Shahinur Rahman Mridha said electricity is being supplied as per the demand. The area has been declared as 100 per cent electricity supplied area since November 1, 2018.
DGM of Durgapur Zonal Office Ariful Kabir Muhammad Shoyeb said that electricity is being supplied as per the demand.
AGM of PBS Zonal Office at Kakonhat in Godagari Upazila Md Shahin Mia said it is difficult to declare Godagari as 100 per cent electricity supplied area as the entire Char Ashariadah Union is situated on the other side of the Padma River.
AGM of Tanore Billing Office Md Sanoar Ali said electricity is being supplied as per demand.
Farmer of Bihan Ali Village in Bagmara Upazila Mokhlesur Rahman said they can use machine for paddy chaffing and cutting using electricity. They can do the works quick.
Mojnu Mia of Debipur Village in Durgapur Upazila said he has got electricity connection recently. He is enjoying various facilities of electricity.
He said he runs his family by driving van. He used to pay Tk 40 for charging his van, but now he can recharge the battery at home.
Char people near the Padma River got electric supply through the solar power. To give electricity supply to Chakrajpur Union in Bagha, Char Ashariadah Union in Godagari and Char Khidirpur Union in Paba, the electric lines need to be taken over the river which is expensive.
Solar power plant has been established there. A massive change has been brought to the life of the char people.
