The state-owned Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd (TGTDCL) has launched a purging drive and started legal action against its corrupt officials and employees.
Besides, illegal pipelines and connections are being removed gradually, a senior Titas official said.
Allegations are there that a section of officials and employees of the distribution companies in an unholy nexus has allowed illegal connections to continue in exchange for bribe money. As a result, the government is being deprived of a huge amount of revenue. The revenue loss incurred by government has multiplied after the import of high priced LNG.
In a virtual meeting on Monday, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told the gas distribution companies that all illegal gas lines would have to be removed within the next two months. Electricity and gas connections cannot be provided outside the planned areas, he added.
The state minister said the image of politicians and the government was being tarnished due to corruption and misconduct of officials. The officers involved in illegal activities are being listed.
In February, some 1247 residential gas connections were illegally given to Titas main server within one night in the Kuril Badda area of the capital. A case was filed against 5 Titas officers, 4 employees and a contractor with Badda police station on Monday. Few more anonymous people have been made anonymous accused in this connection.
It is learnnt that the people involved have misappropriated around Tk 20 crore through this misdeed.
However, Titas investigation says that there are seven lakh such illegal connections on their server, none of which has the approval of the Titas Board.
An investigation of the 9 lakh 7 thousand extended connections that came up in Titas annual report shows that seven lakh connections have been illegally entered into the server at different times.
Concerned people say that not only in Badda, but also in Dhaka Division and even in Gazipur and Narayanganj, there is an increasing trend of illegal gas connections in connivance of officials.
TGTDCL has suspended eight of its employees for their alleged negligence in the recent tragedy at Baitus Salah Jame Mosque in Narayanganj’s Fatullah area on Friday night.
Ali Mohd. Al-Mamun, Managing Director of TGTDCL told Bangladesh Post, ‘Action will be taken against anyone found involved in irregularities. Five officials and three staff members have been temporarily suspended for their involvement in illegal gas connections at Badda in the capital. And a case has been filed against them. Now we are investigating and if the allegation is proved, they will be dismissed finally,” he added.
‘Besides, a probe committee is now investigating the Narayanganj tragedy. The committee is likely to submit the report this week and action will follow after that,’ he added.
Al-Mamun also said "Illegal gas disconnection operations are underway. Upon receiving a complaint, the special team goes to the spot and disconnects as well as imposes fines. Due to the operation, illegal gas connections in Ashulia and Savar area have decreased a lot. But illegal gas connections could not be stopped in Narayanganj due to various reasons. We have all the information. I hope, the illegal gas connections in that area will stop very soon. Already the state Minister has instructed to remove all illegal gas connections within the next two months.’
‘I have already formed 36 teams for operation against illegal gas connections February last. This operation was obviously somewhat slow due to the coronavirus pandemic. We are trying our best to disconnect all illegal connections within the “Mujib Barsho”, he added.
Several intelligence agencies have reported to the government over the years about illegal gas connections. The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources also wants to remove illegal gas connections.
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.
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 areas. As they have seen, there are more illegal connections in industries than at residences.