LAHORE, April 20: The Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) has decided to construct four new 132-KV grid stations to overcome the problem of tripping in the provincial capital. This was told to Governor Khalid Maqbool during a briefing here at Lesco headquarters on Tuesday.

These grid stations will be set up in Sabzazar, Sheranwala Gate, Saggian and Rifle range of Lahore Cantonment. The governor directed the Lesco to prepare a plan to connect the 34 grid stations and distribution system for which funds would be provided in phases according to procedure.

The governor was told that Rs140 million were being utilized to accelerate the pace of installation of two more feeders, repair of 29 feeders and replacement of 371 transformers in Lahore city under SAP during 2003-04 while work on 298 projects of replacement of high and low tension conductors was going on at a cost of Rs210 million.

Lesco chief executive Bashir Zahid said due to suspension in power supply from Hubco on April 18, consumers faced difficulty and the areas of Hali Road also faced six-hour shut down daily due to shifting of transmission lines as the expansion work of the road was in progress.

Governor Maqbool directed the Lesco to put off the maintenance work of power distribution system for the next five months for the convenience of the citizens. "And wherever the shut down is inevitable, the Lesco staff make it sure to announce the schedule a day before through mosques rather a notice of schedule be pasted outside every mosque to keep the people informed," he added.

Later, he visited the McLeod Road Customers Service Centre and checked the record of the complaints regarding replacement of faulty meters without charge, provision of connection and other grievances. -APP