PESHAWAR, March 30: It has been proposed that the Water and Power Development Authority write off the multi-billion rupee arrears against consumers in Federally Administered Tribal Areas and introduce special tariff to persuade them to pay power charges on regular basis, sources told Dawn.

Proposals to this effect have recently been made by the secretariat of the NWFP governor — the administrative head of the tribal areas — who is responsible for Fata affairs including the recovery of electricity dues.

Wapda has been asked to provide free electric meters for Fata and that loadshedding should also be reduced where bills were being paid.

Fata’s private sector power consumers owe over Rs24 billion to Wapda including a significant amount payable by the over 160,000 domestic consumers out of the 200,000 consumers in the tribal areas.

The governor’s secretariat, said the sources, recently forwarded proposals to Wapda in line with the decisions taken at a meeting of the two sides on March 21.

Wapda has been requested to prepare their response to the proposals for presentation in the next meeting.

According to sources, the March 21 meeting had decided that electricity meters would be installed in Fata (separate meters for every consumer), political agents (administrative heads) of all agencies would devise system for the installation of meters in their areas.

Besides, the two sides had agreed that a system of concessions and incentives would be worked out by the governor’s secretariat and Wapda for the recovery of bills.

In their proposals, representatives of the NWFP governor have also suggested different slabs of rates for the Fata consumers, proposing a major cut in the tariff.

Wapda, said the sources, had been proposed to do proper homework prior to the start of the meter installation campaign.

It has also been proposed that Wapda should work out the requirements viz-a-viz of the recruitment of additional staff in consultation with the administrative head of the Fata agency concerned, and that load management should be improved by replacing or repairing the equipment wherever necessary.

Apart from seeking concessions from Wapda to resolve the issue of outstanding bills, the governor, said the sources, had underlined that political agents would be asked to engage Pesh Imams (prayer leaders) to make people pay their bills on regular basis.

“Pesh Imams,” contained the proposal, “should be asked to advocate the governor’s stance in their daily or Friday sermons”.

Besides, political agents will be asked to get tribal elders’ and maliks’ help in this connection.