Power transmission line on Padma-Jamuna abandoned

Acute dollar crisis main cause

Zarif Mahmud: The construction of the transmission line is going on to supply the power of Rooppur nuclear plant across the country. The project, which started in April 2018, was supposed to be completed by December 2023. It was supposed to cover the construction of 20 km river crossing transmission lines on the Padma and Jamuna rivers. The expenditure in this sector was estimated at Tk 6,052 crore. But because the LC could not be opened, the work of that part could not be started.
As a result, important work is missing from the ongoing project.
Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) officials said that under a new scheme, initiatives will be taken to construct a 20 km river crossing transmission line on the Padma and Jamuna rivers.
On the other hand, other parts of the project titled ‘Development of transmission infrastructure for the evacuation of power produced by Rooppur nuclear power plant’ have also seen slowness. The Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Department (IMED) of the Ministry of Planning has expressed dissatisfaction with this. IMED’s inspection report shows the slow pace of project implementation.
IMED has submitted a written report to PGCB for implementation of the project within the stipulated time. PGCB has been asked to inform about the measures taken in light of the recommendations sent by IMED by February 10.
According to the IMED report, the project was inspected on December 28 and an inspection report was prepared. The length of the 400 KV Aminbazar-Kaliakoir double circuit transmission line of the second lot of the first package under the project is 51 km, the physical progress of the work is about 64 percent. IMED has recommended to speed up the implementation of this work.
The length of 400 KV Rooppur-Dhaka double circuit transmission line of package number two is 147 km. Actual progress of work is only 12 percent. Effective initiatives have been asked to complete the work within the project period (31 December 2023).
The IMED report also revealed that the actual progress of the construction of 144 km single circuit transmission line up to 400 KV Rooppur-Gopalganj under the third package is only 21 percent. Effective initiatives have been asked to complete the work within the project period (31 December 2013).
230 KV Rooppur-Dhamrai 145 km double circuit transmission line is being constructed under package number four, the actual progress of work is only 27 percent.
IMED also informed that the construction of 400 KV Rooppur-Bogra 102 km single circuit transmission line of package number five is underway. The actual progress of work in this section is 28 percent. 400 KV bay expansion and 230 KV bay expansion work under package number seven is also not satisfactory.
IMED Sector-1 Director (Deputy Secretary) Mohammad Mahidur Rahman prepared a report after inspecting the project site.
Regarding the project, he said, we have prepared the site report of the project and sent it to PGCB through the electricity department. We also have some recommendations. The progress of some packages of the project is not satisfactory. I have expressed doubts about whether the project will be implemented at the specified time or not.
According to PGCB, Rooppur nuclear power plant is being built at the largest cost in history. A huge cost project is being taken to deliver that electricity to 13 districts of the country. A total of 609 km of power lines will be laid under this. The estimated cost of the project is Tk 10,981.75 crore. Out of this, the government is Tk 1,527 crore, the organization’s own fund is Tk 1,235 crore and the project loan is Tk 8,219 crore. India will pay this amount as foreign debt. This loan is available under Indian Line of Credit.
India will pay this amount as foreign debt. This loan is available under Indian Line of Credit. This power line will be installed in 37 upazilas of 13 districts of Dhaka, Rajshahi and Khulna divisions. As part of the government’s plan to provide electricity to the public at low cost, two 1200 MW nuclear power plants have been set up at Rooppur. In December 2015, an agreement worth $12.65 billion was signed between the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and Russia.
Regarding the report of IMED, Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) Project Director Engineer QM Shafiqul Islam said that what report IMED has given has not been seen. However, the progress of any sector is not less than 50 percent. The project is running properly. We hope to complete the project within the right time.
Regarding the construction of a 20 km river crossing transmission line on the Padma and Jamuna rivers, the chief engineer said, “We are unable to open the LC due to various reasons. As a result, I could not start working. How to work if the contractor does not get paid? That is why the work has been excluded from the scope of the project. However, this work will be implemented under another scheme. The total cost of this work is Tk 6052 crore.