Raiwind exempted from load-shedding: LESCO
Raiwind given double feeders because the prime minister and chief minister live there, says Lesco official.
Raiwind, in Lahore is one of the only areas in the country that receives uninterrupted power supply. PHOTO: FILE
Besides Raiwind, other areas in the city of Lahore only have one feeder to provide uninterrupted power supply, officials of the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) briefed the Senate Standing Committee on Monday.
A senior official of the Lahore Electric Supply Corporation (Lesco) told the committee that no VIP is exempted from the load-shedding in Lahore, except the residents of Raiwind, where two feeders have been installed to ensure uninterrupted power supply.
He stated that Raiwind was given double feeders because the prime minister and chief minister live there.
Furthermore, he said that Rs 524 million and Rs 500 million are outstanding dues from the provincial and federal governments respectively.
The Water and Sanitation Authority (Wasa) in Lahore has paid Rs 862 million of the Rs 1.5 billion outstanding, and the remaining will be paid by the end of this month.
He said that there are no outstanding dues against the Governor House, the CM House and the Assembly Secretariat. The Lesco official also mentioned that Rs 2.27 billion is outstanding against the TMA, Lahore, due to which electricity for street lights has been disconnected.
He also stated that at least 33 % line losses prevail in the Lesco system.
PESCO:
The officials from Peshawar Electricity Supply Company (Pesco) said that except for hospitals and the High Court building, no VIP office has been exempted from the load-shedding. However, the official stated that special generators are being provided for any important VIP event to ensure uninterrupted power supply.
The Pesco official added that there is no more than one feeder installed in any VIP office in the province. According to him, various government departments in Peshawar are defaulters of Rs 1 billion to Wapda of which Rs 500 million was received recently following the disconnection of a driver and they have assured to pay the remaining amount by the end of this month.
IESCO:
The Islamabad Electricity Supply Company (IESCO) MD also said that there is no double feeder in any VIP building, and stated that they generate their own electricity via generators during load-shedding. He said that all the departments have started paying their dues after the disconnection drive.
The MD added that CDA is the largest defaulter of IESCO with an outstanding due of Rs 2.13 billion. He said that out of the total outstanding against CDA, only Rs 319 million has been received.
At present, 980mw of power is available with the system against the demand of 1600mw, and consequently, there is 10-12 hours of load-shedding daily.
QUESCO:
The Quetta Electricity Supply Corporation (Quesco) MD briefed the committee that the highest outstanding due of Rs 80 billion is against the provincial and federal governments in the head of tube well bills. Other than that, the outstanding due against the Quetta Police is Rs 133 million, while the education and health departments owe up to Rs 250 and Rs 435 million of defaulters, respectively.
Circular debt:
A joint secretary ministry of water and power told the committee that the circular debt has again surged to Rs 170 billion, due to which rental power plants have reduced the generation of electricity to some extent. Presently, he said, 10,700mw electricity is available in the system and till July and an additional power of 1800mw will be added to system from ongoing projects.
Tariff rate to K-P:
Committee chairman Senator Zahid Khan rejected the recent increase in the power tariff for the consumers in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (K-P). He also asked the K-P chief minister to take the issue to the Council of Common Interest (CCI) in light of the decision of the Supreme Court
A senior official of the Lahore Electric Supply Corporation (Lesco) told the committee that no VIP is exempted from the load-shedding in Lahore, except the residents of Raiwind, where two feeders have been installed to ensure uninterrupted power supply.
He stated that Raiwind was given double feeders because the prime minister and chief minister live there.
Furthermore, he said that Rs 524 million and Rs 500 million are outstanding dues from the provincial and federal governments respectively.
The Water and Sanitation Authority (Wasa) in Lahore has paid Rs 862 million of the Rs 1.5 billion outstanding, and the remaining will be paid by the end of this month.
He said that there are no outstanding dues against the Governor House, the CM House and the Assembly Secretariat. The Lesco official also mentioned that Rs 2.27 billion is outstanding against the TMA, Lahore, due to which electricity for street lights has been disconnected.
He also stated that at least 33 % line losses prevail in the Lesco system.
PESCO:
The officials from Peshawar Electricity Supply Company (Pesco) said that except for hospitals and the High Court building, no VIP office has been exempted from the load-shedding. However, the official stated that special generators are being provided for any important VIP event to ensure uninterrupted power supply.
The Pesco official added that there is no more than one feeder installed in any VIP office in the province. According to him, various government departments in Peshawar are defaulters of Rs 1 billion to Wapda of which Rs 500 million was received recently following the disconnection of a driver and they have assured to pay the remaining amount by the end of this month.
IESCO:
The Islamabad Electricity Supply Company (IESCO) MD also said that there is no double feeder in any VIP building, and stated that they generate their own electricity via generators during load-shedding. He said that all the departments have started paying their dues after the disconnection drive.
The MD added that CDA is the largest defaulter of IESCO with an outstanding due of Rs 2.13 billion. He said that out of the total outstanding against CDA, only Rs 319 million has been received.
At present, 980mw of power is available with the system against the demand of 1600mw, and consequently, there is 10-12 hours of load-shedding daily.
QUESCO:
The Quetta Electricity Supply Corporation (Quesco) MD briefed the committee that the highest outstanding due of Rs 80 billion is against the provincial and federal governments in the head of tube well bills. Other than that, the outstanding due against the Quetta Police is Rs 133 million, while the education and health departments owe up to Rs 250 and Rs 435 million of defaulters, respectively.
Circular debt:
A joint secretary ministry of water and power told the committee that the circular debt has again surged to Rs 170 billion, due to which rental power plants have reduced the generation of electricity to some extent. Presently, he said, 10,700mw electricity is available in the system and till July and an additional power of 1800mw will be added to system from ongoing projects.
Tariff rate to K-P:
Committee chairman Senator Zahid Khan rejected the recent increase in the power tariff for the consumers in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (K-P). He also asked the K-P chief minister to take the issue to the Council of Common Interest (CCI) in light of the decision of the Supreme Court