Load-shedding plagues Meherpur rural areas

MEHERPUR, July 5: The scorching heat combined with frequent load-shedding in rural areas has severely disrupted public life across the district. 

While the town enjoys a relatively stable supply, many villages are left without electricity for five to six hours each day and night. The relentless heat is compounding the misery of residents, with students, farmers, traders, factory owners and others dependent on power facing immense hardship. The Rural Electricity Authority has been unable to confirm when the crisis will end.

According to the Meherpur Rural Electricity Office, the Meherpur Rural Electricity Association serves approximately 524,600 customers across Meherpur and Chuadanga districts, including Chuadanga Sadar, Alamdanga, Jibannagar and Damurhuda. The region draws power from two 132/33 kV grid substations in Chuadanga and Kushtia, along with 77/11 kV feeders from twelve 33/11 kV substations. Current peak demand for the association stands at 137 MW.

In Meherpur District’s three upazilas alone, there are 196,159 customers. Of these, 177,988 are residential, 9,702 commercial, 2,175 industrial, 3,423 irrigation pump connections and 2,871 other users. The area requires 72 MW for uninterrupted supply during peak hours, yet receives only 40 MW, creating a deficit of 15 MW. Off-peak demand from midnight to 5 am is 55 MW, while peak-hour demand from 6 pm to midnight is 62 MW, leaving a shortfall of 21 MW. Load shedding during off-peak hours stands at 27 per cent, rising to 30�"34 per cent during peak hours.

Consumers complain that the official figures do not reflect ground reality. With no power for up to six hours daily, ordinary households are struggling, and a stark disparity exists between urban and rural supply�"villages receive barely a quarter of the electricity allocated to towns. Farmers and students are the worst affected. Despite the monsoon season, rain has been scarce in Meherpur, forcing constant irrigation for rice, chilli and other crops. The Aman rice planting season is now under way.

Shams, a farmer from Patkelpota Village in Meherpur Sadar upazila, said that even in the Bengali month of Shraban, there has been little rain. Rice fields must be irrigated almost daily, but power cuts mean irrigation for one bigha of land requires at least three separate attempts. This drives up electricity bills and keeps farmers toiling in the fields. He warned that if the power situation persists, the rice harvest could face disaster.

Meanwhile, half-yearly examinations have begun in various schools. Candidates are struggling to study at night due to the lack of electricity, with many voicing their frustration over the disruption.

Bishu Karmakar, a welding trader from Saharbati Bazar in Gangni, said his shop employs four workers, whose daily wages total between Tk 700 and Tk 1,000. Even when there is no electricity, he must pay their wages. The power cuts prevent him from completing customer work on time, adding to his financial losses.

Nusrat Zaman, a college student from Bhatpara Village in Gangni Upazila, said studying has become increasingly difficult with no electricity during the day or after evening. She fears that without a reliable supply soon, her syllabus will not be completed.

The district has four government hospitals, including a 250-bed general hospital, and about fifty private clinics. None is equipped with a generator system, leaving patients and their relatives in acute distress whenever power fails.
Swadesh Kumar Ghosh, General Manager of Meherpur Palli Vidyut Samiti, explained that Meherpur is not receiving its required allocation. Load-shedding averages 30�"34 per cent daily. A letter was sent to the Deputy Commissioner on 28 June requesting intervention, but no solution has yet been found. He attributed the problem to low power allocation and could not predict when it would be resolved, though he urged immediate action as this is a national issue.
Deputy Commissioner Shilpi Rani Roy acknowledged that the electricity situation is similar across the country. However, she expressed hope that the problem will be resolved once demand from the national grid is met.