Mohmand Agency: Residents suffer as industrial units steal power

Residents claim factories do not pay bills forcing TESCO to disconnect supply which creates power shortage for all.

SHABQADAR:

As the Tribal Electric Supply Company (Tesco) struggles to cope with an increasing shortfall in power generation, the Mohmand Agency political administration has disconnected electricity supply to industrial consumers in the public’s interest.

However, it was learnt that Tesco has restored the supply to all those factories which are paying bills to the company, without prior permission from the Mohmand political administration, while phases to defaulting factories have been disconnected until electricity metres are installed.



Due to the power disconnection in these phases water pumps are not operating, creating a water shortage in the area.

Upper Mohmand Assistant Political Agent Jamshed Khan confirmed the discontinuation of electricity to factories saying they create problems for the locals.

“They (factories) are using public property for their own interests, which is why we have demanded Tesco permanently disconnect their power supply,” he said.

Meanwhile, residents of lower Mohmand claim marble factories in Dhand Pandyali, Michni and Ekka Ghund continue to receive electricity with the help of Tesco officials despite not paying their bills, even after the political administration ordered their supply be disconnected.

A Tesco official from Ghallanai, requesting anonymity, told The Express Tribune some marble factories in Haleemzai tehsil had been receiving electricity from MNA Bilal Rehman’s house feeder without paying any bills to Tesco. When the company learnt of this, it directed the factories to pay the dues after a metre reading. However, the owners refused to comply.

“We had to cut off the phase to the feeder and because of this other consumers are suffering,” he said.

Basher Khan, a local, was of the opinion the factories have connections to all feeders because of which residents are suffering. He demanded Tesco and the political administration use force to put an end to electricity theft.

Mohmand Agency has several small-scale industrial units, mostly marble factories and steel mills. A majority of the steel mills had to suspend operations due to non-availability of electricity and raw materials from Afghanistan. Marble factories in some areas like Michni pay a fixed amount ranging from Rs30,000 to Rs60,000 per month to the political administration.  It was also learnt factories in other areas are exempted from paying electricity bills without obtaining any such permission from the federal or provincial government, with the help of local Tesco officials.

Water shortage has remained a major problem in Mohmand for quite a while. The only water sources are pumps operated with electricity.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 24^th, 2013.