Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), which claims to have empty kitty to run civic services, appears generous by allowing 'unauthorised free electricity' to its residential colonies, bringing its monthly power consumption up to around Rs 50 million; it was learnt.
The years-long 'illegal' power consumption in the civic body's residential colonies, quarters, bungalows, and apartments, due to negligence of officials concerned, the corporation's outstanding electricity dues have ballooned up to Rs 4.5 billion.
The corporation's various departments including its head office at Old KMC building were currently facing power suspension from KE network. Sources in KE said KMC's average monthly electricity consumption stands at around Rs 50 million while its outstanding receivables against the corporation have accumulated to Rs 4.5 billion.
A KMC's senior official told Business Recorder that a major part of civic body's expenditures goes to 'unnecessary' power billing as residential colonies, quarters and apartments of high officials were provided with free power supply, putting huge financial burden on the exchequer of the resource-constraint civic body. The corporation on the other hand is unable to pay its staff salaries due to monetary issues, he deplored. "As per our assessment, around 45 percent power expenditures can be curtailed through energy conservation in the civic body," he said.
Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar in this regard had directed the departmental heads to take appropriate measures.
Also, he had constituted a three-member committee under the supervision of senior director Rehan Khan to conduct surveys of KMC quarters and zones on June 19.
On the light of survey, he said the corporation has started disconnection of supply of electricity to 246 residential quarters adjacent to boundary wall of its hospitals. These quarters were supplied electricity from the main KMC electric meter and KMC had been paying their bill also.
Metropolitan Commissioner (MC) Dr Syed Saif-ur-Rehman paid visit to the KMC hospitals and inspected the electric supply to the residential quarters located in their boundary wall.
Residents of these quarters were also directed to obtain the new sub meters so they could pay their bill directly.
MC said that residents of quarters inside or adjacent to the KMC hospitals will have to pay their electricity expenditure themselves and if anyone is found violating these orders action will be taken against him including lodging of FIR.
He also went to the Gazdarabad General hospital with the chief engineer electrical and mechanical Anis Qaimkhani and the hospital MS Abdul Haq was also present on this occasion where electric supply to 15 residential quarters were disconnected.
Meanwhile, the electrical and mechanical section of engineering department of KMC disconnected the electric supply to the KMC Officers Club in the KMC Sports Complex at Kashmir Road on Monday morning and directed them to obtain the new meter and pay the dues.
The power supply of 14 quarters located in the KMC sports complex was also disconnected and the electric supply to 6 quarters in Khaliqdina Hall was also disconnected and they were directed to obtain the sub meter.
A few days back, the mayor directed departmental heads that all the Air-Conditioners are to be used by BS-18 and above officers and in future conventional lights are to be replaced by LED lights. All head of Departments have also been directed to take action against all illegal connections and kundas within the premises of their office.
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