Load-shedding petition: LHC seeks details on action against theft
Govt lawyer says 1,700MW will be added to national grid soon.
A Water and Power Ministry official told the court that a quota of 150 MMCF of gas had been allocated to enhancing electricity production. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial of the Lahore High Court on Monday sought details of electricity demand and supply and action taken against electricity thieves as he took up a petition against load-shedding.
At the start of proceedings, Deputy Attorney General Nasim Kashmiri told the court that of the total so-called circular debt of Rs503 billion, the federal government had paid off Rs342 billion to electricity production companies and 1,700 MW would be added to national grid soon. This would reduce the amount of load-shedding. He also presented an Alternative Energy Development Board report to show that the government was working on the production of electricity from biogas, coal, wind and solid waste.
A Water and Power Ministry official told the court that a quota of 150 MMCF of gas had been allocated to enhancing electricity production.
The court observed that despite these additions, it would be hard to eliminate load-shedding without controlling electricity theft. It asked the officials to inform the court about the action taken against electricity thieves and punishments given to them.
The petitioner, Judicial Activism Panel Chairman Advocate Azhar Siddique, says that Punjab is being discriminated against in electricity supply, as it is suffering the most load-shedding amongst the provinces despite having the highest billing recovery rate and lowest theft rate.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 2nd, 2013.
Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial of the Lahore High Court on Monday sought details of electricity demand and supply and action taken against electricity thieves as he took up a petition against load-shedding.
At the start of proceedings, Deputy Attorney General Nasim Kashmiri told the court that of the total so-called circular debt of Rs503 billion, the federal government had paid off Rs342 billion to electricity production companies and 1,700 MW would be added to national grid soon. This would reduce the amount of load-shedding. He also presented an Alternative Energy Development Board report to show that the government was working on the production of electricity from biogas, coal, wind and solid waste.
A Water and Power Ministry official told the court that a quota of 150 MMCF of gas had been allocated to enhancing electricity production.
The court observed that despite these additions, it would be hard to eliminate load-shedding without controlling electricity theft. It asked the officials to inform the court about the action taken against electricity thieves and punishments given to them.
The petitioner, Judicial Activism Panel Chairman Advocate Azhar Siddique, says that Punjab is being discriminated against in electricity supply, as it is suffering the most load-shedding amongst the provinces despite having the highest billing recovery rate and lowest theft rate.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 2nd, 2013.