Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) chairman Tariq Hamid said that Wapda has provided requisite data to the parliamentary committee on water resources in a meeting held on Monday.
He denied that Wapda has floated any proposal for holding referendum in the country over the construction of dams during the meeting.
He stated this while addressing a press conference here on Tuesday.
However, he said that we have conveyed to the members of the committee that Kalabagh Dam is the only dam on which construction can be started immediately, which can be completed in 2011.
He said that Kalabagh Dam is situated at the center of electricity distribution system, and for the supply of power to be generated by Bhasha Dam, a 340km long distribution line would have to be laid.
He said that the international panel of experts in their final report has declared that Bhasha Dam is perfectly feasible for construction.
He said that Wapda will try its best to further reduce power tariff for industrial consumers so that big industrial consumers can opt for Wapda's electricity instead of producing power through self-generation.
Tariq maintained that Wapda, which is presently facing deficit to the tune of Rs 13 billion, is likely to face an additional financial burden of Rs 4 billion due to recently announced cut in power tariff.
The government has assured that the entity would be provided Rs 900 million as a subsidy against this decrease, he added.
He said it is incorrect that Wapda has reduced industrial tariff to provide benefit to a few industries owned by some influential people.
He further said that hundreds of industrial units would benefit from this reduction.
He said that production cost of electricity is Rs 3.95 per unit, but at present, Wapda is selling it at Rs 1.40 per unit to its 2.8 million consumers, while 2.274 million consumers are getting power at the rate of 2.57 per unit. Around 5 million electricity consumers are paying Rs 3.47 per unit to Wapda.
He said that Wapda receivables owed by the public sector organisations, which were Rs 32 billion in the beginning of current fiscal, have reached Rs 43 billion.
He said that revenue target fixed for the current fiscal year was Rs 220 billion, and he hoped, it is to be met.
Tariq maintained that Wapda has completed electrification in 6,500 villages this year, which is a record. Due to this electrification, a large number of small customers have been added to the Wapda's system.
Responding to a question regarding collection of TV fee through Wapda's electricity bills, he said that it was a government decision but Wapda was consulted before its finalisation.
He said that electricity consumers who want exemption from the payment of TV fee must contact PTV officials, as it is the PTV people who can accord exemption.
"Wapda is designated to collect this amount at the rate of Rs 25 per consumer," he added. He said Rs 1.8 billion is expected to be collected under the head of TV fee.
To a question, he said that complaints of corruption in Ghazi Barotha Dam are being investigated.
However, there is no serious financial or technical loss.
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RELIEF IN WAPDA TARIFF
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Sr TARIFF CATEGORY NO. OF EXISTING CURRENT NEW
No. CUSTOMERS TARIFF RELIEF RATES
Apr-04 IN TARIFF (BUDGET)
Rs/kWh Rs/kWh Rs/kWh
C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6
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1 Domestic (51-100) 2,274,252 2.57 0.10 2.47
2 Domestic 101-300 units) 5,087,585 3.47 0.10 3.37
UB-TOTAL:1 7,361,837
3 Domestic (301-1000 units)1, 331,531 5.76 0.10 5.66
4 Domestic (Above 1000 units) 34,436 6.90 0.10 6.80
5 Commercial (Above 100 units) 448,263 7.17 0.25 6.92
6 B-1 Industrial (Normal) 186,808 5.21 0.10 5.11
7 B-2 Industrial (Normal) 20,572 4.86 0.10 4.76
8 B-2 Industrial TOD Peak 134 6.57 0.56 6.01
9 B-3 Industrial TOD Peak 834 5.19 0.58 4.61
10 B-4 Industrial TOD Peak 28 5.08 0.51 4.57
11 Agri. T/wells in Punjab & Sindh Rs/kW/Month
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Fixed Charges (Rs/kW/Month) 83,896 90.53 11.04 79.49
SUB-TOTAL: 2 2,106,502
GRAND TOTAL 9,468,339
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