Senate Standing Committee on Power, on Tuesday, recommended a folded award of payment for owners of the land acquired for the Suki Kinari Hydel Project.
This was said in a meeting held in parliament house while Senator Fida Muhammad was on the chair.
While discussing the implementation status of recommendations, the committee deliberated over the issue of reallocation of funds to complete electrification schemes in the districts of Mansehra and
Kohat.
Taken up for the third time since December 2018, the committee recommended the Power Division should arrange for the provision of 20 per cent of the fund to wind up the remaining work of various approved schemes of ‘Rehabilitation of Electricity Distribution Infrastructure.’
Power Division Secretary, Irfan Ali, told the committee that the electrification projects were in under-developed areas.Taken up for the third time since December 2018, the committee recommended the Power Division should arrange for the provision of 20 per cent of the fund to wind up the remaining work of various approved schemes of ‘Rehabilitation of Electricity Distribution Infrastructure.’
He said that according to an office memorandum dated 26 April 2018, no money could be drawn for deposit into the chest or transfer to the company’s bank account after FY 2017-18.
Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) took up the matter with Accountant General of Pakistan Revenue (AGPR) Sub Office, Peshawar, after which directions were conveyed in writing that no payment was to be authorised after the closure of the current Financial Year 2017-18 for the current year’s budget.
It was revealed that funds to the tune of Rs 229 million had been sanctioned for the execution of power infrastructure schemes in various areas in districts Mansehra and Abbottabad and Rs 298 million had been allocated for the rehabilitation of electricity distribution infrastructure in District Kohat.
The Committee was informed that out of these funds, an amount of Rs 238 million was utilised and the balance amount of Rs 112 million and Rs 60 million remained unutilized respectively. In view of the importance of the scheme, especially the development of Kohat, the committee recommended that Rs 60 million of the Rs 298 million be paid immediately so that the project may be completed.
While taking up the matter of payment of the Federal Government share to the Sindh Irrigation Department by 22 April, 2019 as per commitment in favour of XEN Bengari Sindh Feeder Division Kashmore, Chairman Committee, Senator Fida Muhammad stressed the need for the third and last instalment of Rs 670 million to be paid immediately so that the project may be completed.
While discussing the issue of electricity connections given to Afghan Refugee Camps in the country, Senator Nauman Wazir Khattak was of the view that all connections must be allocated as per NEPRA rules and that bulk supply of electricity must be stopped to the camps.
Scrutiny of Public Sector Development Program (PSDP-2019-20) proposed by the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) for the next financial year was deferred on the request of the Ministry and will be taken up exclusively in the next meeting.
The meeting was attended by Senators Moula Bux Chandio, Mushahid Ullah Khan, Muhammad Akram, Syed Muhammad Ali Shah Jamot, Dilawar Khan, Nauman Wazir Khattak, Shamim Afridi, Lt. Gen (R) Salahuddin Tirmizi as well as senior officers of the Power Division, NTDC, TESCO, PEPCO, PESCO and K-Electric.