Development project: CM directs energy minister to expedite electrification of villages

Out of 3,153 villages, 1,179 are yet to be provided power despite payment of Rs1.89 billion

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the provincial government had given Rs5.86 billion to three power companies, Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO), Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) and K-Electric (KE) to provide power to 3,153 villages. Of these, 1,974 villages have been supplied power against Rs3.66 billion and 1,179 villages are yet to be connected to the power grid, for which the Sindh government's funds of Rs1.89 billion are in the hands of power companies.

The CM directed Energy Minister Imtiaz Shaikh to take up the issue with the authorities of HESCO, SEPCO and KE so that the remaining villages, for which the government has already deposited demand notes, could be provided power.

This he said this on Tuesday while presiding over a meeting on the provision of power to villages. The meeting was attended by the energy minister, Principal Secretary to CM Sajid Jamal Abro, Energy Secretary Musadiq Khan, Finance Special Secretary Asif Jahangir, Planning and Development Department Member Fatah Tunio and other concerned officers.

Shaikh, briefing the CM, said that the provincial government had paid Rs3,124 million to HESCO for the provision of power to 1,600 villages. The amount had been paid between the fiscal year 2012-13 and 2017-18. He added that HESCO had supplied power to 870 villages against Rs1.84 billion, but 730 villages were yet to be supplied with power, for which Rs1.35 billion had already been provided to the power company. The CM directed the energy minister to talk to HESCO authorities for the completion of the work.

Shaikh also told the chief minister that during the last five years, from 2012 to 2017, Rs2.34 billion were paid to SEPCO for the provision of power to 1,508 villages against which they electrified 1,062 villages for Rs1.49 billion. They have still to provide power to 446 villages using the remaining funds of Rs512.42 million available with them, he added.

Similarly, KE had been given Rs400 million to provide power to 45 villages. They managed to provide power to 42 villages for Rs318.646 million and work on three villages was still in progress.

The CM said that he wanted to provide power to various villages in Malir and West districts and directed the energy department to prepare a plan for the schemes.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2019.