Korail slum

The exorbitant rates which syndicates are charging for providing illegal lines of gas, power and water to inhabitants of Korail slum are staggering, and amount to extortion of the most marginalised in the city. A report published in this paper on Monday highlighted that at least 20 such groups were engaged in this business, earning them Tk 1.5 crore a month.

Officials have claimed that drives against these connections have failed to stop these elements. The number of connections, going into the thousands, reveal why they managed to thrive in the first place: they are filling a gap that Wasa, Desa and Titas failed to fill. Therefore, these syndicates can get away with charging ridiculously high prices for basic amenities, illustrated by the example of charging Tk 150 a month for providing five minutes of tap water per day. At the same time, the illegal gas lines they provide are safety hazards. We have seen cases of fires that have broken out in the slum due to these connections before. As with the collusion of utility officials and law enforcement, there has been total denial, even though sources have claimed paying from Tk 50,000 to 1 lakh to power office, Wasa and law enforcement officials.

The issue of the Korail slum is not a new one. There has been talk of evicting the inhabitants, but that cannot be the solution if their rehabilitation is not first ensured. On the other hand, if the government provides these services free or at a nominal price to the inhabitants, it could solve the safety issues, the stealing of public resources, and the criminal activities which are part and parcel of these rival groups. In any case government resources are being appropriated by these syndicates that exploit the poor of the slum only because there is a vacuum. Thus any solution must start from addressing that shortage.