January 12, 2009	Monday	Muharram 14, 1430

KARAK, Jan 11: The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) has decided to disconnect power supply to as many as 9,032 consumers on charges of electricity theft and outstanding dues.

According to sources orders for disconnection were passed by the Pesco deputy manager (operations) (DMO) Karak Ihsanullah Marwat. He also recommended to police to register FIR against 1,000 consumers on account of power theft. The police have already registered cases against 41 alleged defaulters.

Sources told Dawn that the liabilities in shape of monthly bills and fines had exceeded Rs1 billion during the period between July and Nov, last year, while 26 villages, which have been declared as ‘no go areas’ by the Pesco as officials were reluctant to go there due to threats, were using ‘kunda system’.

It was revealed that during the July-Nov period, 80.69 million units worth Rs190.10 million had been consumed from Karak grid station and only Rs70.50 million could be recovered.

The sources said that Pesco chief Qasim Jan had formed committees at districts level comprising three members to examine the cases of liabilities and to write off the dues of the consumers who had not paid a single penny during the last 10 years. The dues would be declared irrecoverable and would be written off to make such consumers regular payees of the utility’s bills.

When contacted the DMO Karak informed this correspondent that the country was already facing power shortfall and its theft had further aggravated the situation. He added that work on Sabirabad and Siraj Baba grid stations was in progress and very soon these would be made operational to help resolve the low voltage problem in the district. He asked the people to utilise the electricity with care and not to steal it. — Correspondent