Titas Gas officials have admitted on Wednesday that despite their repeated efforts illegal connections of gas are still in the system as it is not physically possible to keep surveillance on its huge network in and outside Dhaka city.  

“It’s really tough to guard the gas lines. On one side we disconnect the illegal lines, on the other side the thieves restore illegal connections and steal the gas. It’s like a cat and mouse game,” Titas Gas MD Harunur Rashid Mollah told the public hearing on gas price hike proposals on Wednesday in the city.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) is holding the hearing at the city’s BIAM Auditorium to listen to the stakeholders’ arguments on the proposals.

At the hearing, Harunur sought the consumers’ cooperation to stop illegal connections and stealing of gas through such lines.

BERC Chairman Abdul Jalil, members Maqbul-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Bazlur Rahman, Mohammad Abu Farooq were present on the occasion.

Most of the Titas employees and officials are honest while 10 percent might be dishonest, claims Harunur.

READ: Titas Gas asked to act against officials who failed to increase customer services

The Titas Gas top boss said 23,000 illegal connections were disconnected in December last, 18,000 in January, 33,000 in February and 25,000 in March.

At the public hearing, Titas Gas proposed a 117 percent increase in household prices while the technical evaluation committee of the watchdog body recommended a 10.76 percent rise in the gas price.

The evaluation committee has also recommended increasing the price of gas for two burner ovens to Tk 1,080 from Tk 975 while Tk 990 for single burner oven from the existing price of Tk  925.

It also made identical recommendations for Titas Gas like other companies that gas price for per cubic meter might be raised to Tk5.34 from the existing Tk 4.44 for power sector, Tk 15.50 from Tk 13.85 for captive power, Tk 5.34 from Tk4.44 for fertiliser factories, Tk12.65 from 10.70 for tea industries, Tk27.60 from Tk23 for commercial consumers, Tk 49.50 from Tk43 while Tk 18 from 12.60 for metered gas oven at household consumers.