Load-shedding jeopardises life at Juri

JURI, MOULVIBAZAR, Sept 19: Load-shedding is affecting overall life and business in Juri Upazila of the district.

The public life has almost come to a standstill in the upazila due to endless load-shedding.

According to field sources, people in the upazila are witnessing electricity outage for 9-10 hours in each 24 hours. Public suffering is increasing. They are missing their work hours due to warming.

This electricity problem has been prevailing in the upazila for over one month.   

Warming is prevailing in entire Sylhet Division including Moulvibazar District. This warming is affecting Juri.

A recent visit found severe level load-shedding in the upazila; affected people have been angry; educational institutions, banking service, general businesses, poultry and fisheries are hampered; and children and adult people are suffering seriously.  

Students of primary and high schools and madrasas are facing excessive heating in classrooms; they are sweating and affected by coughing.

The severe load-shedding is also damaging business photo-copier machines, residential freezes and televisions and computers. Other electricity-run household things are also damaged. The Internet service is halted.       

According to sources at Power Development Board, Residential Engineer Office-Juri, the highest electricity demand of the upazila is 6 megawatt (mw); but 2.5mw to 3mw electricity is loaded from Kulaura Electricity Sub-Station.

Due to a deficit of 4mw electricity, an hourly load-shedding has been maintained, the office sources said.    

A general subscriber Kamrul Islam said, "Electricity goes for 10-12 times in day-night; it continues for hours; my children can't study and sleep; it is the same in school; sweating causes coughing; we want to get rid of it."

A Juri town dweller Rayhan Ahmed  Shahin said, "Due to frequent load-shedding, my old parents are becoming sick because of sweating. We want to come out of this situation."

A bank officer said, "Our banking service is halted due to excessive load-shedding, requiring generator to start for providing customers' services."

When asked Residential Engineer Kabir Ahmed said, "We are getting less electricity than the demand; due to this deficit, we are maintaining load-shedding; our discussion is continuing with authorities concerned; we hope all problems will be solved within a short time."