Federal minister of water and power Laiquat Ali Jatoi met the officials of Hyderabad Electric Supply Corporation (Hesco) on Friday. During the meeting he urged the officials to gear up the pace of recovery of outstanding dues from the defaulters and initiate stern action against the power theft.
Federal minister has given the instructions to the concerned officials to take action against the electricity thefts and arrears people. On the request of the ministry, Sindh Government has deputed six Deputy District Officers Revenue having powers of a Special Magistrate to help the Hesco in its recovery drive, he said.
Under Section 39/39-A of Wapda Electricity Act 1910, these Special Magistrates have the powers to impose fines from Rs 5, 000 to Rs 50,000 or three years imprisonment on the spot to defaulters and power thieves, the minister informed and directed the officers concerned to launch a vigorous campaign for the recovery of outstanding dues and action against power theft in their respective jurisdictions.
Chief Executive Hesco while briefing the minister said Special Magistrates along with recovery teams will perform their duties in all five operational circles of Hesco. In this connection directives have been issued to all operational circles to install heavy power transformers in all over loaded grid stations, he added.
He asked the officers concerned to carry out repair and maintenance work of the power installations according to schedule and fix the target of repair and maintenance of 18 feeders in a month.
A new transformer has been installed in Qasimabad grid station and work on progress in Pir-jo-Goth, Kandiaro, Shahdadkot, Digri and Humayoon grid stations and work on Wahi Pandhi and Mehrabput grid stations will start soon, Hesco Cheif briefed.
Besides, transformers should also be installed with immediate effect in needed areas, and the provision of better services in respect of power supply should be the top priority of the officers, he added. Within four years 19 thousands connections of the tube wells have been provided country-wide and electricity facilities to 0.55 million villages, he added.
Annually, rate of power consumers has been increasing as one million and the use of air-conditioners from 1.5 to 1.6 million. To tackle the situation 8 new power projects agreement have been signed.
Giving the instructions he said that where ever they found unannounced load-shedding immediately take action against concerned officers. Chief executive officer of Hesco Karim Bux Qureshi has informed about the performance of the Hesco to federal minister liaquat Ali Jatoi. K B Qureshi said, "We have managed the team to recovery of arrears from consumers such team are working with the operational circles magistrates."
The new transformers has fitted at the Qasimabad grade station while work still continuous at Pir Jo Ghoth, Kandiyaro, Shadadkot, Dagri and Hamaio grade stations and work will start at Wahi Pandi and Mihrapur grade stations. K B Qureshi further said, "I have given instruction to the special circle magistrates to take action against the thefts and arrears of the electricity in there areas and extend the recovery with that will reduce the losses." He added that the electricity have provided to 154 place merely July of this year and although 1850 projects where electricity will provide in this year and other new grade station will establish in different areas.