Rationalising losses: Federal govt expresses concern over high power theft in K-P
We have directed the PESCO to conduct fearless action against power theft, says Water and Power Minister.
We have directed the PESCO to conduct fearless action against power theft, says Water and Power Minister. PHOTO: FILE.
PESHAWAR:
The centre is concerned about billions of rupees of power theft in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, said Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali, adding the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led government must shoulder responsibility for handling law and order.
Speaking at a press briefing at WAPDA House on Wednesday, Ali said, “We have directed the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) to conduct fearless action against power theft in the province regardless of any pressure. Maintaining the law and order is the responsibility of the K-P government.”
He said Pesco officials will now hold a daily two-hour public session to hear complaints in their respective offices and only competent officers will stay on in their jobs.
If a grid station or a power transformer is burnt during an operation against electricity theft, it will not be replaced until the K-P government pays for it, said the minister.
The enforcement of law and order in the province cannot be undermined as there are departments running in millions of rupees of losses due to illegal power connections, but Pesco officials hesitate to go to these areas and often have to retreat out of fear of being physically assaulted, Ali said.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Ali said: “In the 22 power feeders in the surrounding areas of Peshawar, Pesco faces 90% power theft.” He added that there are certain localities, including Chagarmati, where the theft is as high as 99%.
While referring to former assembly speaker and Awami National Party member Kiramatullah Chagarmati, Ali said, “A speaker in the previous government in K-P had managed to establish two feeders for his area (Chagarmati) through political influence and there was nobody to keep a check
on him.”
Ali resolved to increase power load-shedding in areas where there were illegal connections and to reduce power or eliminate power cuts in localities where residents pay their bills. He described the measure as a carrot and stick policy by the government, adding “An hour’s power supply to areas where there are illegal connections results in losses worth Rs1.5 million, while six hour’s power supply results in losses of more than a billion rupees. How can the system function?”
“Pesco is facing losses amounting to Rs157 billion, including Rs53 billion this year,” Ali informed, saying the government is criticised for an increase in circular debt for no reason. “Rs23 billion is the amount we have yet to recover from Peshawar’s suburban areas,” he added.
When asked about the political administration in tribal areas collecting money from locals on the pretence of paying their bills, Ali said the federal government is working to resolve the matter. He admitted that political agents in FATA take money, while it is the government that pays the bills.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 10th, 2013.
The centre is concerned about billions of rupees of power theft in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, said Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali, adding the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led government must shoulder responsibility for handling law and order.
Speaking at a press briefing at WAPDA House on Wednesday, Ali said, “We have directed the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) to conduct fearless action against power theft in the province regardless of any pressure. Maintaining the law and order is the responsibility of the K-P government.”
He said Pesco officials will now hold a daily two-hour public session to hear complaints in their respective offices and only competent officers will stay on in their jobs.
If a grid station or a power transformer is burnt during an operation against electricity theft, it will not be replaced until the K-P government pays for it, said the minister.
The enforcement of law and order in the province cannot be undermined as there are departments running in millions of rupees of losses due to illegal power connections, but Pesco officials hesitate to go to these areas and often have to retreat out of fear of being physically assaulted, Ali said.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Ali said: “In the 22 power feeders in the surrounding areas of Peshawar, Pesco faces 90% power theft.” He added that there are certain localities, including Chagarmati, where the theft is as high as 99%.
While referring to former assembly speaker and Awami National Party member Kiramatullah Chagarmati, Ali said, “A speaker in the previous government in K-P had managed to establish two feeders for his area (Chagarmati) through political influence and there was nobody to keep a check
on him.”
Ali resolved to increase power load-shedding in areas where there were illegal connections and to reduce power or eliminate power cuts in localities where residents pay their bills. He described the measure as a carrot and stick policy by the government, adding “An hour’s power supply to areas where there are illegal connections results in losses worth Rs1.5 million, while six hour’s power supply results in losses of more than a billion rupees. How can the system function?”
“Pesco is facing losses amounting to Rs157 billion, including Rs53 billion this year,” Ali informed, saying the government is criticised for an increase in circular debt for no reason. “Rs23 billion is the amount we have yet to recover from Peshawar’s suburban areas,” he added.
When asked about the political administration in tribal areas collecting money from locals on the pretence of paying their bills, Ali said the federal government is working to resolve the matter. He admitted that political agents in FATA take money, while it is the government that pays the bills.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 10th, 2013.