Titas Gas intensifies crackdown on illegal connections; heavy fines imposed

Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC has ramped up its nationwide enforcement campaign, conducting a series of raids to dismantle illegal gas networks and penalise offenders.
On Monday, officials from the Zonal Office-Tongi launched a drive in the Pagar area of Gazipur. 
According to a press statement, 37 illegal connections were severed due to outstanding arrears, the use of unapproved burners, and outright theft. Teams also dismantled and seized approximately 200 feet of illegally installed pipeline.
In a separate operation on the same day, a task force led by Moniza Khatun, Senior Assistant Secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, targeted industrial theft within the Keraniganj Model Police Station area.
The raid resulted in the disconnection of illegal lines at a cable factory, where ten service lines were cut. In a joint effort with local residents and the administration, an 11 kV electricity line supplying the facility was also decommissioned. 
The factory was fined Tk1 lakh, and criminal charges have been formally filed. Officials estimate the operation has plugged a monthly revenue leak worth over Tk12,82,644.
In a separate drive under Metro Dhaka Sales Division-1, the Vigilance Division (Metro Dhaka South) detected illegal gas use at Bismillah Molding Limited located in the capital’s Shyampur. 
The inspection found unauthorised gas connections taken from a 150 PSIG distribution line. The connection was immediately disconnected.
Another enforcement operation was conducted in Libas Gate Road in Mouchak area under Kaliakair upazila of Gazipur, led by Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Ahmed Ali Adnan. 
During the drive, 157 single-burner and 44 double-burner illegal connections were disconnected. Approximately 1,200 feet of 3/4-inch pipelines were removed, along with one riser and one illegal regulator seized.
In Narayanganj, another drive led by Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Suha Tabil was conducted in 13 locations under Meghnaghat Zonal Sales Office of Titas Gas. 
Illegal connections to six kilns of three lime factories and one kiln of a casting factory were disconnected. A fine of Tk50,000 was collected from the owner of the casting factory. Around 110 feet of MS pipes of different diameters were seized. The drive is estimated to have prevented daily gas theft worth approximately Tk277,000.
In Munshiganj, a separate operation led by Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Md Abu Bakar Siddique was conducted in four locations in Panchasar union of Munshiganj sadar upazila. 
During the drive, illegal gas usage was detected at Nurul Iman Islamia Madrasa, where gas was being used through star burners. Gas connections from two water heaters on the madrasa roof were also found. The illegal connections were immediately removed from the source line.