‘Cut power supply of bill defaulters in Parliament Lodges’

Mandviwalla tells IESCO to follow policy instead of piling up dues

ISLAMABAD: A meeting of the Senate House Committee on Wednesday told the Islamabad Electric Supply Company to disconnect power of consumers living in the Parliament Lodges if their bills remain unpaid for more than two months.

The meeting chaired by Senate Deputy Chairman Senator Saleem Mandviwalla at Parliament House deplored huge outstanding bills of IESCO against the residents of the Parliament Lodges.

Mandviwalla asked the utility to follow its policy of disconnecting power supply of consumers if they don’t pay their bill for two consecutive months. He also ordered checking meters of the Parliament Lodges.

Moreover, the committee enquired about the issues faced by senators at the Parliament Lodges.

Mandviwalla took serious notice of the issues and directed Capital Development Authority (CDA) staff designated at the Parliament Lodges to look into the matter.

The committee was informed that CDA faced a dearth of funds due to which numerous issues had arisen. The committee directed CDA to submit a utilisation report, without which the Finance Department would release no funds.

Details of all work conducted at the Parliament Lodges must be submitted as well. A committee to address the issues of Senators was formed.

New consultant for extension

While taking up the issues of hiring of a new consultant for construction of a new block at Parliament Lodges, the Committee was informed that TORs have been formed and a tender for hiring of the consultant will be placed next week.

The previous consultant has been disengaged. The Committee was informed that the process would be completed by December.

The committee was requested to summon the Finance Division in the next meeting. Since this was a Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) project and changes in PC1 were anticipated it was imperative to take finance and planning divisions on board.

Discussing the conditions of the Water Filter Plant at the Lodges, the committee decided to obtain random water samples and have it checked by a private company to address health concerns of the members associated with it.

Members attending the meeting were senators Yousaf Badini, Samina Saeed, Sardar Muhammad Shafiq Tareen, Kulsoom Parveen, Shamim Afridi, Ataur Rehman, Kesho Bai, Molvi Faiz Muhammad, Sana Jamali, Anwar Lal Dean, Gianchand and senior officers from the CDA, IESCO along with all concerned. CDA Chairman Amir Ali Ahmed was also present.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2019.