Energy and Mineral Resources Division had set a target of disconnecting all illegal gas connections in the country by December 31 last year.
However, there are still at least 130 km of illegal gas lines remaining to be disconnected and 22,000 stoves, which were identified earlier.
Meanwhile, any new gas connections for domestic use have already been stopped for a long time due to gas shortage. Despite ban on new gas line connections to households it was noticed that unscrupulous officials are still engaged in giving connections in return for huge amount of illegal money.
Most of the illegal gas lines are in Titas Gas Transmission & Distribution Company Limited (TGTDCL) area, according to an official report. There are 125 kilometers of illegal lines in TGTDC and Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Limited has 6 kilometers of the illegal gas lines. On the other hand, there are around 21,000 stoves in Titas and 200 in Bakhrabad gas distribution areas.
As of December, last year, Titas had removed 620 kilometers of illegal gas lines. About four lakh stoves have been disconnected. Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company has disconnected 12,264 stoves and removed 37 km of illegal gas lines.
Abul Mansoor, Additional Secretary of the Energy Division (Operations)at a meeting held last month had instructed in a meeting that all gas distribution companies must keep watch on such illegal gas line connection and identify them. He had also instructed the officials concerned to submit report within 3 weeks on the monitoring outcome.
Sources said that the energy division had formed a committee to disconnect illegal gas connections across the country. The committee was ordered to disconnect all illegal gas connections by December 31. After that order, 580 kilometers of illegal connections were removed across the country. At the same time, three lakh 25 thousand 559 stoves were disconnected.
However, the distribution company could not remove all the identified lines.
Ministry sources said only the illegally marked lines were being removed. Outside of that, those that have not been identified are still in operation. To this end, it is being considered to work harder with the deputy commissioners of each districts and the police of the concerned areas.
According to Titas Regional Office and police, most of the gas accidents occurred due to illegal installation of low-quality pipes and other devices. Casualties often occur in these accidents.
Most of the illegal pipelines are in Narayanganj Sadar, Rupganj, Bandar, Araihazar and Rupganj upazilas. Then there are Munshiganj Sadar and Gazaria. There are illegal gas lines in Jatrabari, Shampur, Postagola, Demra, Matuail, Signboard, Karail Basti, BTCL area of Banani, Jamgarh, Dhalpur, Amtala and some other areas of Dhaka. Apart from this, there are some illegal pipelines in Gazipur and Narsingdi districts.
According to reliable sources, in many areas, syndicates involving Titas employees and locals are maintaining these connections at a rate of taka 500-600 per month per connection. In order to provide these illegal connections, an unofficial amount of Tk 20,000 to Tk 70,000 is charged in the different area.
The trend of giving and taking illegal gas connections started in 2009, the year when the government announced banning all new gas connection. Gas connection is still not provided to residents. It is also very difficult to get connection in the industry. However, new connection is still available allegedly in return for bribe money.
Customers who took illegal connections say that illegal gas connections were obtained in exchange for bribes by a section of Titas officials and employees, contractors and some local leaders of the ruling political party. In some areas, bills are collected monthly. There are allegations that the gas used in the illegal connection, Titas enters it as system loss.
Ali Iqbal Mohammad Nurullah, Managing Director of TGTDCL told Bangladesh Post, "Illegal gas disconnection operations are underway. Upon receiving a complaint, the special team goes to the spot and disconnects as well as imposes fines. Illegal connections still remain to be disconnected in a few areas due to lack of information. We are collecting information. Those illegal connections will be removed as soon as possible.”
Several intelligence agencies have reported to the government over the years about illegal gas connections. In those reports, they mentioned the involvement of leaders and activists of the ruling party at various levels and dishonest officials and employees of the Titas for the illegal gas connections.
Prior to the import of high-priced LNG from August 18, 2018, the Energy Division had instructed all distribution companies to declare themselves free from illegal connections. But no company has been able to free itself from illegal connections within the stipulated time.