In a bid to reduce the systems loss caused by these illegal electric connections, the Dhaka Electric Supply Authority (DESA) and the Dhaka Electric Supply Company Ltd. (DESCO) disconnected the illegal connections to the slums and supplied legal ones with proper meters.

Because of the temporary status of slums the two authorities had to provide electric connections on a temporary basis to the slum dwellers.

"We can only supply electricity after the agreement has been signed on Tk.150 stamped paper where subscribers accept the temporary status of the provision," said a Superintendent Engineer of DESA.

DESA needs money from the subscribers of the shanties in advance, as it does not want to take the risk of further losses in case of sudden eviction.

The inhabitants of the shanties are not very confident about the permanency of their abode. They do not want to pay the subscription in advance due to the uncertainty of their stay in the slums.

"We want to have legal electric connections in our homes. But what would be our plight if we are evicted once the security money is paid," queried Kalam of Begunbari shanty.

Because of the temporary status of the shanties DESA gives connections to a group rather than to individuals. Individual billing is maintained by the usage of lights and fans.

"We cannot provide individual connections, because the inhabitants of the slums will exploit the opportunity of legal rights by claiming the land," said Brigadier General AAMA Rob, the chairman of DESA.

Because of the requirement of advance payments and the fear of sudden eviction, electric connections to the slums are gradually decreasing in the city.

"We have so far supplied electricity to 14 shanty colonies beside the Rayerbazar embankment but now the numbers have reduced to six due to eviction and unpaid bills. DESA is earning a revenue of about Tk. one lakh per month from these slums," added the Superintendent Engineer.

In the Mirpur area, DESCO collects bills through an NGO. Bills are generally collected from the slum dweller by the owner of the room who charges individuals Tk. 40 to 50 for the use of one light or one fan for the month.

DESA and DESCO are billing the slum dwellers on a flat rate of Tk. 2.50 per unit.

There is an allegation that the moves of DESA and DESCO are hampered by hoodlums who gain from illegal connections.

"We have taken the policy of providing connections to the slum dwellers to reduce the systems loss from illegal connections. We are planning to stop taking advance payments from the slum dwellers to make the matter easy on them, " said the Chairman of DESA.