K & P

PHC summons federal, provincial secretaries to explain possible purchase of WAPDA

Justice Khan says consumers who pay their bills should not face power cuts.

Our Correspondent November 05, 2013

If our leaders’ houses are subjected to power outages like those in villages, the problem would be solved in a month, says CJ Dost Muhammad Khan. PHOTO:FILE

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) summoned provincial officials and the federal secretary for water and power to explain if the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government could purchase Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda).

Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Musarrat Hilali issued the directives while hearing a case about load-shedding in the province on Tuesday.

The bench ordered the officials to consult with the chief minister who will ask the provincial cabinet to find out if there was any way the government could purchase assets, power, dams and other facilities owned and managed by Wapda in the province. This, the bench stipulated, would help provide cheap electricity in K-P.

The provincial officials summoned include, principal secretary to the chief minister, chief secretary, Wapda secretary and secretary finance department.

Justice Khan said consumers who pay their monthly bills regularly should not be treated as defaulters and be provided uninterrupted power.

“If our leaders’ houses are subjected to power outages like those in villages, the problem would be solved in a month.”

National Power Control Centre (NPCC) Chief Engineer Sabz Ali informed the bench the provincial electricity network of Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) could not afford the burden of continuous supply; therefore power is supplied alternately from the NPCC.

In response, the PHC bench remarked the Asian Development Bank had provided millions in funds for aerial bundled cables (insulated overhead lines) to be laid across K-P and the government should complete the project as soon as possible.

The court further ordered the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) to exempt hospitals from load-shedding as lifesaving drugs can get spoiled in outages.

“Pesco must ensure electricity supply to hospitals, primary schools and prisons,” stated Justice Khan.

The bench directed a meeting be convened in this regard with the participation of home secretary, home and tribal affairs department and IGP prisons.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th,2013.