The state minister yesterday claimed during the question-answer session that power generation has increased by 1,020 megawatts (MW) since the alliance government assumed office in October 2001.

He said that the ruling coalition government has set up a 450-MW power plant at Meghna Ghat, a 210-MW power plant at Siddhirganj, a 120-MW at Haripur, a 105-MW at Tongi, a 100 MW at Baghabari, and a 35 MW RPCL power plant. These new plants undertaken by the four-party alliance government have led to the 'increase' in power generation, he added.

The Finance Minister, in his budget speech on Thursday, claimed the same.

Experts, however, say the increase in power generation has been possible because of projects initiated by the previous governments. Most of the works of those projects were completed during the previous government's tenure, and the plants went into operation at different times in the last three years.

They said the government could claim credit only for setting up a 105-MW plant at Tongi as it was constructed and went into production during its rule. However, it was again the previous government that laid all the groundwork for the project, they added.

Replying to another query, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud said that to attract private investment in the power sector, the government has taken several steps that include among others formulation of Private Sector Power Generation Policy, Policy Guideline for Small Power Plant (SPP) in the Private Sector, and the Private Sector Infrastructure Guideline.

Besides, he said, the government has given private enterprises permission for setting up small power plants (1050 MW).

Systems Loss In Power
State minister for power Iqbal Hasan Mahmud told the House that if the systems loss could be pegged at a tolerable level, the government would earn an additional revenue of about Tk 650 crore.

He said the government loses Tk 65 crore annually from just one percent systems loss in the power sector.

Mahmud said the ministry has taken a number of steps to contain the systems loss, including ensuring power meters for the consumers, computerising the billing system, introducing pre-paid meters in some sectors, and cutting off power supply to illegal and defaulted consumers.