Electricity pole installed despite objections; family fears accidents

In Kalmakanda, Netrokona, the Palli Bidyut Samiti (Rural Electrification Society) has been accused of installing an electricity pole in the courtyard of a private residence to facilitate an irrigation power line. The affected homeowner, Md. Tuton Mia, has demanded the removal of the pole, citing the risk of a potential accident.

On Monday (October 26) at around 11:00 AM, local residents held a human chain in front of his house in Shunoi village, located in the upazila’s Pogla Union, to support this demand.

More than fifty villagers, including Tuton Mia, participated in the demonstration. According to the residents, Tuton Mia had submitted a written request on December 15 of last year to the Deputy General Manager (DGM) of the Kalmakanda Zonal Office of the Netrokona Palli Bidyut Samiti, asking them not to route the power line over his property. However, the authorities ignored the request and proceeded to install an electricity pole in his courtyard for the irrigation line.

Tuton Mia resides in Shunoi village. Another villager, Alal Uddin, had applied for the installation of the irrigation line. Tuton claims that it would have been possible to route the line directly toward the fields (beel) without crossing his property; instead, the line was intentionally diverted to place the pole in his courtyard. He was away from home for work when the pole was installed.

"I submitted an application regarding this matter, but received no response or remedy," said Tuton Mia. "My family members are now at risk of an accident. The pole must be removed immediately and relocated elsewhere."

Md. Khodanewaz, a villager who participated in the human chain, shared his own harrowing experience. He recounted that in 2002, an electricity pole was installed over his property. In 2004, a power line snapped and fell on him, causing severe burns. He lost all the fingers on one hand, and a large portion of his body sustained burns. Although he survived, he has lived with a permanent disability ever since.

"I do not want anyone else to suffer a life as miserable as mine," Khodanewaz said. “Therefore, I demand that the pole be removed immediately.”

Kamal Hossain, a resident of the village, stated that it would have been possible to route the line without passing by Tuton’s house. However, by diverting the line and installing a pole in the courtyard, the family has been put at risk. For the sake of safety, the pole must be removed promptly.

Meanwhile, locals have alleged that several illegal irrigation connections have been established in Shunui village with the complicity of personnel from the Rural Electrification Office. They claim that for these connections, wires have been run from residential houses—spanning approximately 700 to 800 meters—across bamboo poles to the middle of the marshland, where irrigation pumps are being operated. 

Residents fear that this method of power supply alongside the illegal irrigation connections could lead to an accident at any time. Furthermore, there are allegations that residential electricity connections are being used for irrigation purposes.

However, Alal Uddin, the owner of the irrigation line, stated, “I applied for the irrigation line following the proper procedures. The electricity office installed the line according to their own regulations. I had no role in this, and I am unaware of the details.”

Regarding the allegations, Shah Alam, DGM of the Kalmakanda Rural Electrification Association’s zonal office, said, “The application for this line was submitted a long time ago; I joined this office only recently. Had we been informed or had there been an objection during the construction phase, the line could have been routed elsewhere. We always take the needs and concerns of the public into account. Now that the construction is complete—and noting that the wires on the pole were stolen a few days ago, an incident already reported to the police—I will look into the matter to see what can be done.”

Regarding the allegation that irrigation connections were illegally extended from residential houses, he stated that he would investigate and take appropriate action.

Sohel Rana, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kalmakanda Police Station, mentioned that there are some complications surrounding this electricity connection, and a complaint has also been filed regarding the theft of the wires. The matter is currently under investigation.

-    ASR/NS