Sindh government restores power subsidy to KWSB, WASA
CM urges both departments to fix their workings, resolve over-staffing issues.
Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah chairing a meeting on water at the CM House on Wednesday. PHOTO: AP
KARACHI:
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has decided to restore the power subsidy to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) and the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa).
The decision to restore the financial assistance was made after 22 years given the financial constraints faced by the two departments. "The modality and the amount of the subsidy will be finalised after consultations with the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco), the finance department and other stakeholders," the spokesperson for CM House said on Wednesday.
During a meeting on performance and bottlenecks of the local government department, the CM also issued directions to establish an 'operation and maintenance' fund for all water supply and drainage units working in Sindh.
Shah said the local government department provides basic facilities and it should be strengethed to make sure the people of the province are taken care of. In principle, the Sindh government has decided to provide a subsidy to the KWSB and Wasa Hyderabad to supplement their electric expenditure, he announced, adding that strict reforms will be needed and the organisation will be revamped to make them more self-reliant.
The chief minister also constituted a three-member committee, comprising the secretaries of the finance, local government and energy departments, to coordinate with the K-Electric and Hesco authorities to reconcile the outstanding dues of the two boards and issue payments.
Shah also formed another committee, comprising representatives of the local government and finance departments, to evolve a mechanism to efficiently utilise the budget of the town and municipal committees.
The local government secretary said that Hesco has issued an outstanding bill of Rs7,680 million against the 172 connections of Wasa Hyderabad but, after verification, the claimed amount is Rs2,364.477 million.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 8th, 2014.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has decided to restore the power subsidy to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) and the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa).
The decision to restore the financial assistance was made after 22 years given the financial constraints faced by the two departments. "The modality and the amount of the subsidy will be finalised after consultations with the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco), the finance department and other stakeholders," the spokesperson for CM House said on Wednesday.
During a meeting on performance and bottlenecks of the local government department, the CM also issued directions to establish an 'operation and maintenance' fund for all water supply and drainage units working in Sindh.
Shah said the local government department provides basic facilities and it should be strengethed to make sure the people of the province are taken care of. In principle, the Sindh government has decided to provide a subsidy to the KWSB and Wasa Hyderabad to supplement their electric expenditure, he announced, adding that strict reforms will be needed and the organisation will be revamped to make them more self-reliant.
The chief minister also constituted a three-member committee, comprising the secretaries of the finance, local government and energy departments, to coordinate with the K-Electric and Hesco authorities to reconcile the outstanding dues of the two boards and issue payments.
Shah also formed another committee, comprising representatives of the local government and finance departments, to evolve a mechanism to efficiently utilise the budget of the town and municipal committees.
The local government secretary said that Hesco has issued an outstanding bill of Rs7,680 million against the 172 connections of Wasa Hyderabad but, after verification, the claimed amount is Rs2,364.477 million.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 8th, 2014.