Officials of some distribution companies (Discos) are allegedly flouting the apex court's verdict regarding implementation of its order of equitably sharing the available power supply between domestic and industrial consumers.
According to the industry sources, the grid officials of some Discos have started offending the industrial hubs by increasing duration of loadshedding from six hours to 12 hours a day in the name of equitable supply of electricity amongst domestic and industrial consumers.
They said there was a general impression that power supply to both domestic and industrial consumers would be improved after equitable distribution of loadshedding across the country, which is not the case on ground. Instead, they said, power shortage, both for domestic and industrial consumers, has doubled right after the apex court verdict. Resultantly, they said, the industrialists have started laying off daily wagers that may cause law and order situation in the province.
It may be noted the industry in Punjab has been crying for electricity throughout the last five years, as it was denied both electricity and gas supply. All representative bodies of various industrial circles have been pointing out that industry in Punjab has been victimised of the political wrangling between the PPP and the PML-N.
The PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif said that during a recent visit to Karachi, he wondered why electricity is unavailable in Lahore and why it was "always available in Karachi". There was a hope that electricity supply to the domestic and industrial consumers would improve after the apex court's intervention but all in vain. Already, the consumers in Punjab have faced severe and unprecedented power shortage when the Ministry of Finance delayed Rs 22 billion for purchase of furnace oil to generate electricity through thermal units.
It may be noted that the apex court had directed all the Managing Directors of Discos throughout the country to convene a meeting with the Managing Director NTDC through video conference on 1st June 2013 and after conclusion of meeting, all the stakeholders, ie. MDs, of Discos and the Chairman Irsa as well as Secretary, Ministry of Water and Power etc shall prepare a joint statement to ensure the implementation of order dated 21-05-13 in letter and in spirit, and the same shall be filed in the office of Registrar of the apex court for the perusal of the bench. Further, it was made clear that all the MDs of Discos shall be implemented this order without any excuse.
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