Daily Times

LAHORE: Almost 23 newly constructed grid stations energised by the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) have serious discrepancies, Daily Times has learnt reliably.

In this connection, the LESCO Grid System Operation (GSO) superintendent engineer has sent a letter, a copy of which is available with Daily Times, to LESCO Grid System Construction (GSC) project director, highlighting a number of discrepancies in the newly constructed grid stations.

The letter revealed that several official intimations were made to the project director and the copies of the same were also sent to the LESCO chief engineer (development), chief engineer operation and maintenance (Transmission and Grid Stations), executive engineer SS&T Division (North), LESCO Shalamar Lahore and Executive Engineer SS&T Division (North) OKLP, Lahore.

The correspondence was started in October 2017 and the last letter was dispatched in February 2018.

The superintendent engineer had pointed out in the letter that in case of any breakdown during the summer season due to alleged discrepancies the GSC concerned would be held responsible. He also mentioned in the letter that to avoid any mishap the concerned should take immediate action to remove the mentioned defects.

However, sources told Daily Times that so far no action had been taken by the LESCO engineers and 23 grid stations had been declared flawless.

Sources said that poor quality material and parts were installed at grid stations because of alleged corruption of officers and contractors, which could trigger a major breakdown at any point during the summer.

Daily Times has also learnt that the Kidney and Liver Transplant Center’s grid station was reported to be functional and the project director was awarded Rs 100,000 for the completion of the project by the Punjab chief minister. Whereas, the inspection report / letter revealed that there were 36 discrepancies in that grid station.

According to the letter, there were seven discrepancies in Punjab University H/S Grid Station, two in Jubilee Town, 16 in Askari X, 27 in 132kV Dual Chuchak, 17 in Askari XI, six in EMCO, 21 in Press Club, 12 in Kanganpur, 65 in Saggian, 23 in Mandia Ahmadabad, 37 in General Hospital, 12 in Paragon City, 35 in Baseerpur, 29 in DHA Rahbur, 23 in Punjab Small Industries (Sundar), 36 in Kidney Centre Hospital, 11 in Malikpur, eight in Hujra Shah Muqeem, six in Raiwind (New), four in Pattoki, whereas Chunia, Ellahbad and Raiwind have one discrepancy each.

Also, LESCO Chief Executive Executive Mujahid Pervaz Chattah had referred the matter to the public relations officer, who claimed that there were no discrepancies in any of the grid stations.

When contacted, LESCO General Manager (Technical) Khalid Saeed Akhtar said that there were no discrepancies in the grid stations rather these were some missing elements which were yet to be added to the grid stations and teams were looking after them.

He said that these projects were completed almost a year ago and still some work was pending, which would be completed in the near future.

Published in Daily Times, March 27^th 2018.