ISLAMABAD, Aug 18: A Senate committee on Monday opposed the government’s plan to increase power tariff and called for enhancing hydroelectric power generation capacity on war-footing.

The Senate Committee on Water and Power, which met here under Senator Hafiz Abdul Malik Qadri, observed that any further increase in the power tariff would create problems for the people.

Senator Amjad Abbas told Dawn that the ministry of water and power informed the committee that the unprecedented increase in the prices of oil in the international market had dealt a severe blow as nearly 69 per cent electricity being generated in the country is thermal, which is dependent on imported oil.

The government is providing per unit subsidy of about Rs3.36 to consumers but this situation can not go on for ever. High percentage of line losses, thefts and frequent attacks on installations, especially in Balochistan is further complicating the issue and compounding our problems, the committee was informed.

It was further informed that the government had the plans to exploit potential of hydel and coal- based energy, with the aim to generate 15000MW from these sources by 2016. It was pointed out that the work on Neelum-Jhelum power project had already started, which on completion in 2013 would be able to generate 969MW of electricity.

The committee observed that the power crisis was gradually assuming an alarming proportion as the supply – demand gap is increasing with each passing day.

The members of the committee pointed out that the people were being subjected to long hours of load-shedding but surprisingly their monthly electricity bills were not undergoing any substantial decrease. Similarly, the industrial and agricultural sectors are suffering tremendously.

The committee directed the