Around 70,000 people of three remote chars in Shariatpur are going to get access to electricity as the government is installing submarine power cable under the Padma River to connect the chars with the mainland of the district.
The submarine power cable will be connected to the national grid to ensure power supply for the char people.
Out of 20 megawatts projected electricity, supply of 10 megawatts will be ensured by September this year.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wants to see overall development of Shariatpur district. So the government is connecting the three chars with national power grid,” Deputy Minister for Water Resources AKM Enamul Haque Shameem said.
The chars will be connected through submarine cable line under the Padma River, said the minister at the inaugural ceremony of submarine cable connectivity and power substation at Char Atra of Naria Upazila in the district on Monday.
Around 800-metre submarine cable will be installed under the project to connect the chars with national power grid, the minister said.
The char people will get 20 megawatts of electricity. The power connection will be done under a development project involving Tk600 crore, said the minister who is also the organising secretary of Awami League.
“Our target is to present Shariatpur as a model district in Bangladesh,” he also said.
Munshigonj Rural Electrification Board (REB) is working on the project in the district.
Out of 200 kms projected distribution line, the REB has already completed installation of 150 kms line. The installation of the remaining portion will be done soon.
This is mentionable that installation of the submarine power cable is the second of its kind in Bangladesh. The first one was installed at Sandwip Upazila of Chattogram district.
Member of REB (Planning and Development) Md. Abdus Salam, Shariatpur Deputy Commissioner Kazi Abu Taher and senior officials concerned spoke on the occasions.
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