ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Water and Power, Abid Sher Ali on Thursday disclosed that power Distribution Companies (Discos) have been involved in massive overbilling as well as installation of defective meters. He made these revelations at a meeting of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Water and Power presided over by Senator Zahid Khan.

“We have unearthed that Discos overbilled consumers just to show an improvement in recovery. Discos also installed defective meters on a very large scale. We have taken serious note of this cheating and it has been decided to remove all defective meters within three months,” the minister added.

Abid Sher Ali who is facing criticism for referring to Balochistan consumers as “electricity thieves” announced that loadshedding will continue 18-20 hours in those areas where recovery is poor. “We will try to supply electricity without any loadshedding to those areas where recovery is impressive,” he maintained.

He was replying to a question raised by Senator Khalida Parveen who expressed anger over 18-20 hours loadshedding in southern Punjab due to which agriculture sector is suffering badly. In reply to a question, Ali said Discos are engaged in installation of smart metering to check theft and reverse metering to adjust consumption of those consumers who use solar electricity.

Senator Zahid said Pepco should present facts about line losses and theft to the nation so that negative impression of large-scale theft of electricity in some areas can be removed from the minds of people. He argued that linking line losses with theft is not a good tradition.

Briefing on hydropower projects, Wapda Chairman Syed Raghab Abbas who is said to be close to State Minister for Water and Power instead of Federal Minister Khawaja Asif said the main reason for the delay in big projects is working on small dams. He said China had offered $ 700 million for small dams and negotiations are under way to finalise modalities.

The Wapda Chairman said the government has decided to start work on Diamer Bhasha hydropower project and run of the river Dasu project. Dasu’s funding issues have been finalised with the World Bank, he revealed, adding that it will approve a loan in its Board meeting in March 2014. The World Bank has allowed expenditure of $ 126 million on land procurement. He added that the first phase of Dasu project will be completed in five years which will generate 2,160 MW electricity, ie, 12 billion units in a year.

In reply to a question, the Wapda Chairman said procurement of land for Diamer Bhasha dam will start soon as the Prime Minister has instructed procurement of 37,000 acres. He also disclosed that the victims’ rehabilitation plan has been finalised. He said there is dispute between the government of Gilgit-Baltistan and KP on some areas required for Diamer Bhash. This dispute is expected to be resolved by a Jirga.

Project Director Neelum Jhleum, Muhammad Zubair informed the committee that 52.2 percent development work has been completed.

The Senate committee will inspect the project on December 23-24 along with media team.

Senator Nisar Muhammad Khan, Nawabzada Saif Ullah Magsi and Maula Bux Chandio attended the meeting.—MUSHTAQ GHUMMAN