Severe heat, erratic load shedding, and low voltage, during the last couple of days have been causing untold sufferings to people in Sylhet of the district. At least 40 thousand poultry birds in different poultry farms died due to severe heat in the upazila on Monday.
Romzan Ali, executive engineer of distribution and sales of Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) said that the demand of power in Sylhet is about 15 to 20 MW per day, but they are getting only 2 to 3 MW during the peak hours. The demand for power supply increases due to heat wave but the supply is decreasing. As a result, people are facing huge load shedding which is causing sufferings.
A power sub-station is under construction at Nalua and load shedding may ease after it begins operation along with additional supply from the national grid, the engineer said.
Poultry farmer Jabed Ahmed said that erratic power supply, unprecedented load shedding and severe heat has left atleast one lakh poultry birds in different poultry farms dead on Monday in Sylhet.
About 200 deep and shallow tube wells, 50 rice mills and about 500 poultry farms in Sylhet Upazila are using power. Besides these, power is also used by small industries, hospital, clinics and in recharging a large number of battery driven easy bikes.
Boro farmers and HSC candidates in Sylhet Upazila are the worst sufferers as it is peak time to plant boro seedlings while the HSC examinations are ongoing.
Shahid Uddin of village Shibbari said that due to load shedding he is unable to irrigate the land and his boro farming has been perched.
He lamented that though the government assured of uninterrupted power in 2014, load shedding is extreme this year and he is very disappointed. Load shedding will hamper food production during the on going boro-season, he said.
Gous Ali, a guardian of an HSC examinee said that students have become accustomed to reading in electric light. Due to sever load-shedding, HSC preparations are being hampered as students must study in candle light.
Meanwhile, surgical, labor and other operations are being hampered at hospitals in the area due to frequent power cuts.
