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April
12, 2000
Kushtia,
Apr 11 (UNB) – The prospect of a good harvest of Boro paddy has
become bleak as more than 30,000 hectares of land in greater Kushtia
district in absence of adequate irrigation facilities due to severe
shortage of power.
According
to sources at the Power Development Board (PDB, only 50 megawatt of
electricity was being supplied for irrigation purpose daily against
the demand of 75-80 MW during peak hours.
Irrigation
is also being hampered as almost all the rivers and their tributaries,
and other water bodies in greater Kushtia are drying up fast.
Rampant
stealing of electric transformers installed by the Palli Bidyut Samity
(PBS) for irrigation schemes and shallow machines also added to the
problem of irrigation in the region. Farmers apprehend a poor harvest
in the current season.
Besides,
the economic activities of greater Kushtia have been seriously
affected due to frequent power failures during the last fortnight.
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