State Minister for Power Iqbal Hassan Mahmood yesterday told parliament that he is not optimistic about resolving the ongoing power crisis in a short time.

"The problem of load-shedding will not be resolved even after implementation of all power projects by the present government," the state minister said while responding to a volley of questions both from the opposition and treasury benches on power shortage.

Defending his position, Iqbal said, "One term in office is not enough for development of power sector. You (Awami League) were in power and you know the problems in implementing power projects."

Even the ruling BNP and Jamaat

lawmakers joined in criticising the state minister for failing to improve the power situation.

"Power crisis sometimes may even force a government to step down," Jamaat lawmaker Riasat Ali Biswas warned the state minister and asked about government steps to free the people from the power crisis. BNP lawmaker from Bogra GM Seraj said, "Your (state minister) image is not very good in my locality, and people are angry with you." He demanded new power lines in his constituency.

Nadim Mostafa, another BNP legislator, said the power ministry has failed to install power lines in his constituency even three years after submission of application for those.

The main opposition Awami League (AL) lawmakers alleged that the ruling alliance men have made crores of taka from power sector through corruption.

"Tk 16,000 crore has been spent in power sector in the last four and a half years but not a single megawatt of power has been added to the national grid," AL lawmaker Mirza Azam said. He also alleged that the power ministry has given work order for buying power supply poles for rural electrification to 'Hawa Bhaban' men through corruption. "The ministry bought the poles for Tk 20,000 each while the actual price was only Tk

3,000 each."

In reply, the state minister said, "Owner of the daily Ajker Kagaj controls the business of electric poles supply and everybody knows which political party he belongs to."

Iqbal placed a list of 13 power projects taken up by the government, which he described as a long-tern plan to meet the demand for power.

The projects are however at the initial stage of tender processing. The list shows that funds for five projects have not yet been ensured.

The state minister told the House, "The authorities will have to re-tender two projects and three others' tender bids are in the evaluation process."

Of the three other projects, the government is going to float tender for one, one is at proposal level and development proposal will have to be prepared for the other one.

Earlier, the state minister informed the House that the average daily supply of power is 3,200 to 3,400 MW against the highest demand of 4,300 MW.