ILLEGAL gas and power lines have posed serious dangers to around 1.55 lakh people living in the capital’s three shanties — Korail in Mohakhali, Bhashantek and Chalantika slums in Mirpur. The syndicates getting political backing illegally supply gas and electricity to the slum dwellers in connivance with some unscrupulous officials of the utility service providers. According to a newspaper report, at least 24 syndicates earn around Tk 3 crore per month in exchange of these services, and a big chunk of the money is spent to manage police as well as those employees in Titas and DESCO, resulting in deprivation of the national exchequer.
Installed by the syndicates, numerous supply lines are spread across the slums like cobwebs and a small fire can cause a massive disaster. In recent years, several deadly fires took place in the slums due to defective supply lines of gas and power. In Korail slum, fire in December 2016 and January 2017 gutted around 4500 houses. In both cases, it took several hours for the firefighters to douse the blaze because of gas explosions. In the latest incident, a massive fire broke out at Chalantika slum on August 16, burning down more than a thousand shanties. Flames from burners, short-circuits, burning mosquito coils and cigarette butts and arson attacks are found to be behind most of the slum fires.
Because of low rent, hawkers, shopkeepers, roadside vendors, rickshaw and van pullers, CNG drivers, domestic helps and workers from garment, construction and transport sectors live in the slum houses, mostly made of tin, wood and bamboo. On average, they pay Tk 500 for electricity and Tk 700 for gas per month. The Titas authority, however, sometimes conducts drive to snap the illegal gas connections, but within a couple of days the powerful syndicates reinstall the supply.
We must say the government should provide utility services to the vulnerable group. But recurrence of fire incidence that guts everything must be avoided. At the same time, we urge the authorities concerned to take stern action against the syndicates who run the unlawful business providing illegal gas, water and electricity connections. Stop the political business.
