The joint opposition Wednesday grilled government on frequent loadshedding, electricity theft, false meter readings, Wapda line losses and overall shortfalls of Wapda. During question-hour, MNA Belum Husnain asked the Water and Power Minister Liaquat Jatoi to state the losses amount of Gepco and Lesco during the previous two years.
The minister replied that Lesco line loss was Rs 17066.67 million and Rs 6132.22 million of Gepco during the two years. Shugufta Jumani, MNA asked Liaquat Jatoi to inform about the line losses in Larkana division-II during the last six months. The minister said that line losses of Larkana division-II are 44.4 percent in 2005-06 and 43.5 percent in May 2006-07.
Inayat Begum asked the Water and Power Minister to state province-wise number of cases of theft of electricity registered in the country except the Punjab during the previous three years.
The minister replied that the ministry has recovered the electricity theft amount of Rs 1120.212 million in 2005-06, Rs 725.728 million in 2004-05 and Rs 683.831 million in 2003-04.
Liaquat Jatoi said 28652 cases of electricity theft were registered during the previous three years. However, 1289 persons were arrested for stealing the electricity. Dr Azra Fazal asked the Water and Power Minister to inform the house regarding the steps taken to control loadshedding in the country and the electricity to be produced by 2010 under the next five-year plan.
The minister said that about 8728 mega watts capacity is planned to be produced up to 2010 adding that a number of hydro-electric and thermal projects in public and private sector are under various stages of implementation to meet the fast growing demand.Liaquat Jatoi said that the ministry is striving to increase power generation by installing two rental gas turbine power stations one at Lahore with the capacity of 150 mega watts which has already been commissioned and other at Bhikki of 136 mega watts capacity in October 2007.
While replying to MNA Inayat Begum, Water and Power Minister said that Pakistan is importing 139-mega watts power from Iran, which is being supplied to the residents of Mand, Turbat, Pasni and Gawadar.
The minister said that 100-mega watts electricity would be imported from 2009 onward to meet anticipated demand of Gwadar and other coastal areas of Balochistan and contract for this purpose has been signed with TAVANIR of Iran.
An additional 1,000-mega watts will be imported from Iran and MOU has been signed in this regard. Rana Mehmoodul Hassan asked the Water and Power Minister for total number of applications received for agriculture tube-well connections in MEPCO, Multan during the period from June 1 to December 31, 2006 and connections given so far.
Liaquat Jatoi stated that the total 3390 applications received for agricultural tube-well connections in Mepco, Multan from June 1 to December 31, 2006. He said that 742 tube-well connections were given so far whereas 4400 tube-well connections will be given during the current financial year.
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