HYDERABAD, Sept 19: The Hesco has decided to disconnect the power supply to defaulting departments of the Sindh government in a bid to recover Rs1.06 billion outstanding dues.

The matter was discussed at a meeting in Karachi on Wednesday with Sindh Chief Secretary Dr Mutawakal Kazi in the chair. Chief Executive Hesco Tariq Arshad was also present on the occasion.

Hesco sources told Dawn that the meeting failed to solve the issue of recovery as departments did not show any sign of making current payments of bills. It was learnt that the chief secretary would convene another meeting to settle the matter.

Sources claimed the Hesco authorities had decided to disconnect the power supply to non-essential services in the first phase in order to mount pressure on the Sindh government. The electric supply to other essential services, which owed an amount of Rs513 million would be taken in the second meeting to be convened by the chief secretary.

Hesco was informed by the Sindh government that each and every department had been given its budget to pay outstanding to the company. The Sindh government departments claimed they were allocated budget quite late.

Hesco sources confided to this correspondent that the power supply to essential departments, including security services, operation theatres, potable water supply, drainage and sewerage and barrages would also be disconnected but in the next phase.

On Aug 30, dues were estimated at Rs1.6 billion. Till June 30, Rs566 million were outstanding against all taluka municipal administrations (TMAs).

According to the break-up, Rs79 million were outstanding against the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (Sida), Rs119 million the Salinity Control and Reclamation Project (SCARP), Rs32 million against the police department, Rs20 million against the health department, Rs8 million against the education, Rs45 million against Hyderabad Development Authority, and Rs68 million against district governments.