11 November 2004	Thursday	27 Ramazan 1425

LAHORE, Nov 10: Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) chief Akram Arain on Wednesday asked the Punjab government to impose a ban on kite-flying with full might to save the company's distribution system.

He was talking to newsmen at an iftar dinner which he hosted for them.

He claimed that consistent flouting of the kite-flying ban had totally weakened the distribution system of Lesco during the last few years. "It has been causing continual trippings on the already overstretched system. For example, if a gadget has a strength to withstand 40 trippings, it quickly loses its validity in Lesco's persistently tripping system", he said.

At present, he said, the system had weakened and needed continuous replacement. He said if the ban was not slapped on kite-flying and actively enforced, the Lesco system might collapse or require millions of rupees for replacement.

The Lesco chief insisted that kite-flying remained a major cause of trippings otherwise the system was being consistently overhauled albeit at a very high cost.

Mr Arain said the company data showed that Sundays became particularly problematic for being holiday when people flew kites in great number. The problem was particularly severe in some areas where sky was dotted with kites. Netting of grids had saved them from burning but had not helped in controlling trippings. Only an effective ban on kite-flying could help, he insisted.

About the new tariff, he said the company had still not received a notification. Comments on it could only be possible after formally receiving the official orders.

The company, he said, had been able to control its line losses to the tune of 1.03 per cent during the first quarter of the current month against a target of 1.4 per cent. He hoped that the company would meet its targets by the end of this year.

He said the company's collection had been at 114 per cent during the first quarter of the year; it collected 14 per cent arrears during this period. The collection from the government sector helped it achieve these figures. He said the collection of bills had not been a problem for the Lesco.

About the new connection package for Lesco consumers, he said the company was preparing a plan for granting new connections within three days. The company was arranging all paraphernalia, like vehicles and other gadgets, needed for it and would soon come up with it.