Senate body wants NTDC DWD post abolished

The Senate Standing Committee on Power on Thursday expressed dismay over non-provision of relevant documents for the 765kV double circuit transmission line project.

The committee, which met with Senator Saifullah Abro in the chair, was briefed about the country’s first 765kV high-voltage transmission line designed to ensure evacuation of electricity from the Dasu hydropower project for adding it to the national grid and onward supply to consumers through 132kV and 11kV distribution systems of power distribution companies or DISCOs.

The committee observed that the Power Division had failed to provide the information about the participating parties in the tendering process in last six months.

In Thursday’s meeting, the committee chairman observed that 14 companies out of 20 companies participated in the bidding process were disqualified and only blue-eyed companies were picked. The committee directed the NTDC to provide details of the six companies selected for the project.

It was reported in the media that the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) had asked the National Transmission & Despatch Company (NTDC) to take disciplinary action against the general manager concerned for approving the bidding process in violation of relevant rules and regulations regarding alleged misrepresentation of facts by the successful bidder and its wrongful qualification.

Abro observed that the NTDC board members should be appointed on merit and should have experienced persons. He claimed that a post of deputy managing director (DMD) was created in the NTDC to oblige a blue-eyed person.

He went on to say that the appointment was illegal and an inquiry took nine months. The committee directed the ministry to place the matter before the new board after taking the charge.

The committee recommended abolishing it as it was purely a political post. The committee meeting was attended by Senators Fida Muhammad, Haji Hiddiyatullah, Saifullah Khan, Asad Junejo, Prince Umer Ahmadzai, Rana Mehmoodul Hassan and senior officials of all concerned departments. APP

With additional input from News Desk