A housewife is cooking on a clay stove as a severe gas crisis has hit Savar and Ashulia residents hard. Photo: Messenger
Residents of Savar and Ashulia in Dhaka are facing an acute gas crisis, leading to significant hardships in their daily lives.
Numerous households in municipal areas are experiencing prolonged gas shortages, with some locales completely devoid of gas throughout most of the day. Even when gas is sporadically available at night, the quantities are insufficient for basic household needs.
The severity of the gas crisis has persisted for an alarming two years in various areas, including Savar municipal zones. Residents report a lack of gas supply from morning till noon, and even when gas is restored in the evening, it often occurs as late as 11 p.m. In some areas, residents are left without any gas pressure in their lines well past midnight. This unpredictability in gas supply has left the community grappling with difficulties in cooking and household activities.
Despite repeated notifications to Titus and relevant authorities from concerned residents, a tangible resolution to the gas crisis has not been achieved. The affected population is resorting to alternative means such as LP gas, electric stoves, and clay stoves to manage their cooking needs.
Residents, like Ashraful Alam from Savar Bank Colony, express frustration at the irregular gas supply, with gas often unavailable for more than two hours at a stretch. The low gas pressure further compounds the issue, rendering basic tasks such as heating water impossible. Residents emphasize the need for a swift resolution, especially considering their consistent payment of gas bills.
Rasheda Begum, a garment worker, shares her resignation to the situation, stating that gas shortages occur without any prior announcement, leaving residents to accept their fate. In Ashulia, resident Rehmat Ali highlights the prevalence of illegal gas connections, indicating that despite legal disconnections, unauthorized sources continue to provide gas for a fee. Savar Titas Gas sources reveal that local unscrupulous groups are involved in facilitating these illicit connections.
Addressing the crisis, Abu Saleh Khadem Uddin, managing engineer of Savar Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited, points to the national-level gas supply constraints as a primary cause. Uddin acknowledges the challenge in meeting the region's gas demand due to the disparity between supply and demand, emphasizing ongoing efforts to normalize the situation. The gas crisis persists, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive measures to alleviate the suffering of the affected residents.
Messenger/Fardin
