The NWFP Governor, Lieutenant General Ali Muhammad Jan Orakzai (Retd) has desired to conduct a detail study of the issues confronted by Pesco and Tesco as well as their consumers not only to ensure smooth supply of the electricity to the consumers but also to enable both the organisations to work more efficiently and effectively.
Presiding over a high level briefing at Governor's House here on Saturday, the governor while expressing serious concern over the severe nature of line losses as well as the difficulties being faced by the genuine consumers, was of the view that we must have to seek viable solution to put the things on right track.
The study group, he added, should comprise of the representatives of the Fata people and the Governor's Secretariat, besides officials of the provincial government, Wapda, Pesco and Tesco and the findings should be finalised by the end of July positively.
The briefing conducted by Chief Executive, Pesco, Brigadier Sakhi Marjan and the Chief Engineer, Tesco, was also attended by the Secretary to Governor, Arbab Muhammad Arif, Secretary Fata, Muhammad Shahzad Arbab, DCO Charsadda and the political agent of Mohammad Agency.
In response to a point the governor also desired that the police authorities should be asked to respond efficiently and effectively to the FIRs being lodged by the officials of Pesco especially against the elements involved in armed attacks against the officials and damaging the installations.
Responding to another point raised on this occasion, the governor was also of the view that the issues are quite serious and let the findings of the study should come.
He also pointed out that after having detail review of the whole situation, especially listening to the point of view of all the stakeholders, a meeting will also be convened with the Federal Minister for Water and Power as well.
As far as Fata is concerned, the governor said, apart from enabling the Tesco to work effectively and efficiently, we must make serious efforts to tap all the available means to resolve the problem. However, he said, possibilities should also be explored to install small hydle power stations in the area.
Similarly, he said, we should also explore the possibilities to install wind mills and encourage the local investors not only to generate electricity at the local level but also promote economic activities too. Indeed, he remarked, there exists sufficient opportunities to develop small hydel stations both in Fata as well as the province and we must develop the culture of making the systems a success and consumer supporting.
Meanwhile, during a briefing, the governor was informed that both Pesco and Tesco are compelled to enforce load management because of extra-ordinary demand of electricity especially during the peak hours of heat. Despite the fact, it was stated, every effort is made to ease the situation to the maximum extent but the problem still exists.
However, it was also pointed out that both the organisations are confronted with financial problems of severe nature because of extreme nature of line losses and direly needed to be helped. Though, it was added, tremendous efforts are under way to upgrade and develop the system with special focus on the establishment of new grid stations and construction of additional transmission lines but every effort proves fruitless, in the areas where the system is suffered with severe line losses.
On a point, the governor was also informed that in District Charsadda, out of three feeding lines, Pesco is faced with problem of line losses to the extreme extent in Shabqadar area and because of which the power supply to the Mohmand Agency is also badly affected.