PESHAWAR, April 29: The Commander of the 11th Corps, Lt-Gen Ali Mohammad Jan Orakzai, has said that issues relating to the installation of electricity meters, recovery of outstanding dues and low voltage in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) would be resolved in consultation with the tribesmen.

Addressing the elders and Maliks of Orakzai Agency here on Tuesday, he criticised the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) for overbilling power consumers and for low voltage in Fata, and assured the participants of the meeting that he would discuss all outstanding issues with President Gen Pervez Musharraf and federal water and power minister Aftab Ahmad Sherpao.

Lt-Gen Orakzai said he realised that Wapda was resorting to overcharging power consumers in Fata. He said Wapda charged the consumers of Khyber Agency Rs3 billion per year and Rs1 billion annually of the Orakzai Agency, which, he added, was unbelievable.

He said all issues, including meter installation and recovery of dues, would be discussed at a high-level meeting in Islamabad, which would be chaired by the president.

“I have noticed that tribesmen are experiencing 18-hour-long loadshedding daily,” he said, and added that Wapda chairman had been directed to minimise the duration of loadshedding.

He said the government was planning to install small hydle power units in Orakzai and other agencies while the army would soon install two small hydle power units in Orakzai Agency.

Lt-Gen Orakzai said huge deposits of coal had been detected in many parts of Fata and the government was designing projects to utilise coal for power generation and install thermal power units.

Besides, he said, army engineering corps would install two windmill units at Ali Masjid, Khyber Agency, on experimental basis to generate power for the consumers.

He further said that a proposal was under consideration to provide gas to Orakzai Agency from Gorgori oilfield to conserve forest resources of the area.

The corps commander said several developmental schemes, including construction of roads, schools, basic health units and telephone exchange, were under construction in Orakzai Agency.

He said a telephone exchange was being established at the cost of Rs400 million in tribal area.