Illegal gas connections and old dilapidated pipelines often lead to fires, explosions, injuries and deaths.
Only whenever there is an accident, the issue comes to the fore. But after a while, it fizzles out into the normal. As a result, the risk of illegal and old gas pipelines is increasing.
According to the Fire Service, one-third of fire accidents occurring in the capital is due to leakages in gas pipelines. More than 1,000 fire accidents have happened due to gas leakage in the past year.
Energy expert, Professor Shamsul Alam said that the capital's gas distribution system has become a death trap. The incident at Narayanganj can be termed the outcome of Titas' greed. Most of the officials and employees from the top to bottom of the company are immersed in corruption. There is no initiative to repair the dilapidated lines.
A former Titas official said that according to international rules, a kind of scented chemical is mixed in the gas pipeline so that if there is a leak somewhere, the scent can spread and cause an alert. Now this activity is probably off. It is now not easy to understand any damage to pipelines.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told reporters most of the gas pipelines in Dhaka are 35-40 years old and almost dilapidated. The city also has 50-year-old pipelines. Initiatives have been taken to change these lines. A project has already been approved for Titas. Through this, the gas transmission and distribution system will come under SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition).
"We are vocal about stopping illegal gas connections," he added. No one will be spared here at all.
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. The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources also wants to remove illegal gas connections.
According to the Ministry of Energy, the most illegal gas connections are due to the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company ltd.
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. This time the ministry has taken a stringent step to implement the second time directive.
Allegations are there that a section of officials and employees of the distribution companies has allowed illegal connections to continue with illegal money. As a result, the government is being deprived of a huge amount of revenue. The government's revenue loss has multiplied after the import of high priced LNG.
Officials at the gas distribution company say a political decision is needed to get rid of illegal gas connections. Otherwise, it is not possible to disconnect the unauthorised gas connections fully. Several times, officials and employees have fallen victim to attacks while trying to remove illegal connections. Thus, even after the connection was removed, it was seen that it was reinstated.
In many cases, the leaders of some political parties are involved in such practice, it is alleged.
A coordination meeting was held recently in the Energy Division, where Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution Company declared itself an illegal-gas-connection-free company in February 2019. At the time, five other companies were instructed to announce themselves illegal-gas-connection-free companies within the ‘Mujib Barsho’.
Out of six state-owned gas distribution companies, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited (TGTDCL) is selling around 58 per cent of gas. The company is responsible for selling gas in 12 districts including Dhaka.
When contacted, Ali Mohd. Al-Mamun, 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. This activity was obviously somewhat slow due to the coronavirus pandemic. We are trying our best to disconnect all illegal connections within the “Mujib Barsho”.
He said a large part of the distribution system is quite old. Lines are often damaged even in road ditches. Initiatives have been taken to repair these lines. However, anyone involved in illegal activities would not be exempted. Five officials, including a deputy general manager, have been suspended and eight contractors have been blacklisted for their involvement in illegal gas connections.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) recently said that it has identified 22 sources of corruption and irregularities in Titas Gas after receiving various allegations. According to the ACC report, they have received information about a large number of illegal gas connections in Savar, Ashulia, Gazipur, Narsingdi and Narayanganj area. As they have seen, there are more illegal connections in industries than in residences.
According to the Energy Division, a project worth taka 1,400 crore has been undertaken to replace the old pipelines with new ones to streamline the gas distribution system for risk reduction and sustainable development, which will begin soon. Some 400 km of new pipes will be laid in 143 blocks under the project.
Titas' distribution system will be brought into modern technology. After introducing the new technology, if there is a leak in the gas line at any place, the information will immediately go to the central control room. This will reduce the risk of accidents. Another advantage will be that if an attempt is made to take an illegal gas connection by leaking a distribution line somewhere, the matter will also come to notice and immediate action can be taken. As a result, gas theft will be stopped.
At present, there is a total 24 thousand 287 kilometer gas network in the country. Out of this, Titas Gas has 12,253 km pipeline, whereas around 7,000 km pipeline is in Dhaka and 70 percent pipeline is very risky. There is also a 20-50 year old distribution line. According to sources, there are 300 to 400 kilometers of illegal pipelines in the Narayanganj area under Titas Gas. The condition of gas pipelines in Comilla and Chattogram is also risky.