Despite debt clearance, IPPs fail to enhance supply
Senate panel for addressing power crisis, particularly in southern Punjab.
“Power production could have improved had the government invested Rs100 billion to tackle outages across the country,” a member observed. CREATIVE COMMONS
ISLAMABAD:
A parliamentary panel on water and power issues has expressed concern over payment of billions of rupees to clear the debt of independent power producers (IPPs), saying they have failed to enhance electricity generation despite getting billions from the government.
This issue came up for discussion in a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Water and Power, which met here on Friday with Senator Zahid Khan in the chair.
“Power production could have improved had the government invested Rs100 billion to tackle outages across the country,” a member observed.
The committee members called for addressing the power crisis in all provinces, especially southern Punjab, on a priority basis.
Chairman Zahid Khan pointed out that the government was collecting most of the power bills from consumers in nine districts of Malakand Division but people were facing 18 hours of load-shedding there.
He also expressed his reservations about delay in the transfer of a “corrupt officer” in Multan despite the committee’s orders.
The committee noted that lack of coordination among National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC), National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), Ministry of Water and Power and Planning Commission was adding to the woes of consumers.
Owing to the lack of coordination, progress on power projects was being delayed and consumers were paying surcharge on power bills, the committee observed. It blamed the bureaucracy and the departments concerned for being the major reason behind the problems faced by the people.
The bureaucracy was giving false details, creating misconception among provinces, Senator Nisar Khan said.
The committee members also sought details of decisions taken by the board of directors relating to the Neelum Jhelum hydropower project.
Senator Shahi Syed said the old system of Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) should be restored and the committee should be informed about installation of double meters to stop power theft.
Minister’s absence
Taking notice of continuous absence of Water and Power Minister Khawaja Asif from meetings of the committee, the panel members decided to approach the prime minister to lodge a complaint with him.
“We will write a letter to the prime minister for continuous absence of the water and power minister,” a member said.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 9th, 2013.
A parliamentary panel on water and power issues has expressed concern over payment of billions of rupees to clear the debt of independent power producers (IPPs), saying they have failed to enhance electricity generation despite getting billions from the government.
This issue came up for discussion in a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Water and Power, which met here on Friday with Senator Zahid Khan in the chair.
“Power production could have improved had the government invested Rs100 billion to tackle outages across the country,” a member observed.
The committee members called for addressing the power crisis in all provinces, especially southern Punjab, on a priority basis.
Chairman Zahid Khan pointed out that the government was collecting most of the power bills from consumers in nine districts of Malakand Division but people were facing 18 hours of load-shedding there.
He also expressed his reservations about delay in the transfer of a “corrupt officer” in Multan despite the committee’s orders.
The committee noted that lack of coordination among National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC), National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), Ministry of Water and Power and Planning Commission was adding to the woes of consumers.
Owing to the lack of coordination, progress on power projects was being delayed and consumers were paying surcharge on power bills, the committee observed. It blamed the bureaucracy and the departments concerned for being the major reason behind the problems faced by the people.
The bureaucracy was giving false details, creating misconception among provinces, Senator Nisar Khan said.
The committee members also sought details of decisions taken by the board of directors relating to the Neelum Jhelum hydropower project.
Senator Shahi Syed said the old system of Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) should be restored and the committee should be informed about installation of double meters to stop power theft.
Minister’s absence
Taking notice of continuous absence of Water and Power Minister Khawaja Asif from meetings of the committee, the panel members decided to approach the prime minister to lodge a complaint with him.
“We will write a letter to the prime minister for continuous absence of the water and power minister,” a member said.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 9th, 2013.