Penalty of Rs 3.023 billion charged for power pilferage

The government has charged Rs 3.023 billion as penalty for electricity pilferage during the financial year 2004-05, Minister of State for Water and Power Amir Mukam informed the National Assembly on Thursday.
He was replying to a query of MNA Muhammad Anwar Bhutto regarding penalty for electricity pilferage and the number of people penalised on this account.
Amir Mukam said that nearly 722,098 people were penalised for electricity pilferage during the current year. The government is keeping a strict vigil to curb such offences, he added.
He informed the Lower House that there were around 23.4 percent overall transmission and distribution losses from July 2004 to September 2005.
To a question, Mukam said that 36 proposals are under consideration to construct power houses in the private sector across the country.
The combined opposition criticised the government's negligence towards Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
Muhammad Safdar Shakir asked the minister to clarify government's stance over failure of government's memorandums of understanding with three independent power producers. He also asked the minister to give justification in the House regarding tax holiday given to some IPPs.
Amir Mukam informed the House that Wapda executed MoUs with three IPPs, including Davis Energon, Power Generation Systems and Northern Electric.
He said that the project with Davis Energon could not be established due to unavailability of gas and Wapda is in liaison with the company for alternative arrangements.
Whereas, Power Generation System Company has filed a civil suit against Wapda's refusal of extension in the commercial operation date and encashment of LC.
He said Wapda is also in the process of issuing letter of intent to the Northern Electric Company to terminate power purchase agreement.
The minister said there are 16 commissioned IPPs, out of which nine are oil based, six are gas based and one is based on oil and gas.
He said the project was being processed by the Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) under the Water and Power Ministry as per the provision of Power Policy.
To a question of MNA Belum Hussain, the National Assembly was informed that the quantum of loss caused to the telecommunication network in NWFP amounted to Rs 112.226 million.