GUJRANWALA: State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali has dispelled ‘misconceptions’ about the Nandipur power plant and claimed its first turbine is operational and generating 95 megawatt.

He admits that work on other turbines is going on and will complete in December.

Flanked by Punjab Law Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmad and Project Director Muhammad Mahmood at Nandipur, he told reporters that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leadership was lying (about the project) with the nation in Ramazan. He urged the PTI to pay attention to its government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa instead of criticising the PML-N.

“Imran Khan is not criticising the PPP government, which had delayed the project leading to enhanced cost – Rs23 billion to Rs57 billion. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif negotiated with the Chinese government and brought engineers back to undertake the project,” he said.

The state minister said the government had started many projects including Tarbela raising and Dasu dam. He claimed that 1,500 megawatt energy would be added to the national grid by the end of this year.

He said a scam of Rs6 billion to Rs7 billion in purchase of transformers had been unearthed and the government had decided to send it to the National Accountability Bureau. He said the present government was purchasing a transformer for Rs325,000, which was being purchased at a cost of Rs550,000 by the previous government.

He promised relief in loadshedding during the Eid holidays. He refused to give any deadline to overcome the power crisis but reiterated that the government was striving to prove equal to the task.

Law Minister Rana Mashhood said the provincial government would continue to cooperate with the federal government for smooth working on mega projects.

Earlier, Abid Sher Ali visited the Gepco Headquarters where he told a meeting that all resources like hydel, thermal, solar and coal plants were being put to use to overcome the power crisis.

Talking about agriculture, he said paddy growers needed more water and directed the company officers to form a six-member committee of MPAs who could work out the requirement of electricity for growers.

He said the officers and employees of the distribution company which made maximum recovery of outstanding dues from consumers would be rewarded.

Gepco Chief Executive Mian Munir Ahmad gave briefing to the state minister on system upgrade. He said seven grid stations were operational and four more would be completed by August-end.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2014