Nazmul Likhon, Back from Khulna
State-owned West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited (WZPDCL) wants to ensure electricity facility for more 6 lakh users by 2021. To this end, two different projects are ongoing now, WZPDCL official said. An official said the two projects are ‘Expansion and Upgradation of Power Distribution System in West Zone Area’ and ‘Extension & Augmentation of Power Distribution System Project in West Zone Area’. Both the projects will be finished and completed by 2021.
The first project was taken up in July 2016. Some 31 new sub-stations will be built under this project. Besides, existing 32 sub-stations will be brought under renovation, more than a 500 kilometer new line will be built and the 600 kilometer old line will be renovated. And also 1772 distribution transformers will be installed. Overall 43 percent work has been completed of the project.
Another project was taken up in July 2017 and its present working progress is 42 percent. Under this project, a 2400 km new line will be constructed and the 2400 km old line will be brought under renovation. Some 2530 distribution transformers will also be installed under the project. Besides, residential and non-residential (office and others) civil work will be done.
WZPDCL Superintending Engineer Md. Saifuzzaman told Bangladesh Post “Currently we have 11 lakh 60 thousand users. Around 6 lakh users will get electricity facility under these two projects. At present 98 percent people are under electricity coverage in our distribution area. We will ensure 100 percent electricity coverage in a very short time.”
“However, the electricity demand is increasing day by day. Our target is to ensure uninterrupted power supply. We have already started preparation so that people do not suffer shortage of electricity. And as part of this preparation, these two projects are underway. Some more projects will be undertaken in the future,”-he added.
Saifuzzaman also said “Now we are providing electricity connection in a very easy and rapid way. We have started 3 service centers in Jhenidha, Khustia and Khulna, where people are getting electricity connection and others services easily.” West Zone Power Distribution Co. Ltd. was constituted as an electricity distribution company in November 2002. The state-owned company is working for distribution of electricity in the western zone (Khulna Division, Barisal Division and Greater Faridpur comprising 21 districts and 20 upazilla excluding REB area in the country.