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| January 18, 2002 | Friday | Ziqa'ad 3, 1422 |
Health dept officials misuse gas, power
GUJRAT, Jan 17: The provincial health authorities have failed to control the misuse of electricity and sui gas at official residences situated along all the 34 health centres in the province due to flaws in the billing system, it is learnt here on Wednesday.
The system was reportedly introduced without the approval of the finance department in 1992.
Through a letter No SO(B&A)1-1/91-92 of May 12, 1992, the then health secretary had directed all the medical superintendents in the province to install sub-meters at all the government residences in their respective hospitals, sources said.
They quoted the secretary as saying the occupants of residential accommodations should install sub-meters for gas connections and separate electric meters in their houses. He also directed the officials concerned to suspend gas supply in bulk at all the health centres before May 31, 1992, the claimed.
The secretary came up with another suggestion that occupants of the residences, who did not arrange the installation of separate electric and gas meters, should be charged according to their pay scale, sources said, adding he empowered heads of the institutions to charge from the employees the electricity and gas bills at the rates given under.
Rs500 ( officers grade 17 and above) Rs400 ( government servants grade 16) Rs300 ( government servants grade 10-15) Rs200 (others)
Rs400 (grade 17 and above). Rs300 (grade 16). Rs200 (grade 10-15). Rs100 (others).
Sources claimed the secretary ordered implementation of the rates without seeking permission of the finance department. Knowing they would have to pay a fixed amount, the residents started misusing electricity and gas. A doctor, on the condition of anonymity, told this correspondent that occupants of these residences had got installed three to four gas heaters and as many air conditioners for their comfort. He claimed the Punjab health department had been suffering strain on exchequer.
A former health director said the department was facing a loss in electricity and sui gas to the tune of Rs850 million and Rs1 billion per annum, respectively.
Sources claimed the district account officers had never objected to the misuse of utilities as they received huge chunk from the authorities while passing TA, DA, petrol and diesel bills.
The District Accounts Officer, Amir Mukhtar Chadhar, was transferred from Gujrat when he tried to unveil the situation. However, the health authorities remained tight-lipped despite knowing it all, sources claimed.
If the department ordered to install separate electric and gas meters at official residences, the occupants would afford to utilize both facilities and a loss of Rs1.5 billion could be averted, an expert opined.
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