A rumour has recently spread that the government will re-launch giving new gas connections to residential customers in the country. Based on the rumour, household owners became hopeful. However, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan termed the rumour a “Lie assurance”.
Meanwhile, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company said news of new gas connection to the residential areas is ‘false and baseless’. Bangladesh Oil, Gas & Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla) has also cleared its position on the issue. They said there is no scope to give new gas connections to the residential areas yet. However, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources has not finalised its decision to give new gas connections to the industry sector. The decision will be announced very soon.
Petrobangla sources said the gas connection will not be given to new residential customers in the country. Currently, the project of 19 lakh pre-paid metres is underway. Rest post-paid legal residential customers will be brought under pre-paid metres.
A total of 46, 000 demand notes have been placed to the Titas Gas authority so far due to the gas connection to the residence being off for a long time. On the other hand, 354 demand notes have been submitted for industrial gas connections.
Petrobangla chairman Zanendra Nath Sarker said the gas connection will not be given to new residential customers. On the other hand, the ministry will take the final decision about industrial new gas connection.
He, however, said gas that the gas connection in the industry has not been officially closed yet.
Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan has recently told journalists that they will consider new residential gas connections if the supply of gas increases in the future.
In the meantime, Titas Gas authority in a media statement said that the news spread on social media and some mass media about new gas connections in residential areas is a rumour and baseless. Some fraudsters are misleading the people.
It also suggested that people should remain alert in this regard.
After being assumed power in 2009, the then-Awami League government closed the residential gas connection. It later re-launched gas connection in 2013. However, after one year, the Energy and Mineral Resources Division instructed not to give new residential gas connections. In 2019, the order was announced officially.
bd-pratidin/GR
