LAHORE, Oct 5: Twenty-seven employees of the Water and Power Development Authority and 41 other people died in power-related accidents during the months of July and August.

According to the authority’s progress report, seven Wapda employees and 11 others suffered ‘fatal incidents’ —- which is a euphemism for death —- in the area covered by the Peshawar Electric Supply Company alone. The Hyderabad Electric Supply Company was the second on the list with 11 fatalities —- three Wapda employees and eight others. Two Wapda and seven other fatalities were recorded by Fesco, five Wapda and two others by Lesco, one Wapda and eight others by Gepco, six Wapda and three others by Lesco, three Wapda and two others by Mepco. Only the Qesco had none.

During this period, 33 non-fatal incidents were also reported, in which victims escaped death. Commenting on the situation, a former member (power) said this was the most telling example of the extent of deterioration of Wapda’s distribution system over the last few years.

The Operation and Maintenance (O&M) expenditure have been capped for years in order to increase the “profitability” of Wapda, and the result is there for everyone to see.

Another dimension of the deteriorating health of Wapda is the number of transformers damaged during the months. Some 2,020 were damaged during July and August against 703 in the two corresponding months last year. The trend, if unchecked, could take toll of human and material sources of Wapda, he feared.

Meanwhile, according to the report, the total receipts of Wapda have jumped by Rs8.8 billion over the last two months, from Rs58.18 billion in June to Rs67 billion by the end of August.

The public sector dues increased by Rs6.417 billion during the two months. The dues amounted to Rs33.504 billion at the end of last fiscal year and another Rs6.417 billion were added during the last two months, taking the total default to Rs39.921 billion.

The private sector default, which the authority often prefers to deny out of hand, also swelled by Rs2.488 billion during these two months. It stood at Rs24.267 billion by the end of the last fiscal year, but went up to Rs26.755 billion by the end of August. It is largely because the collection plummeted during this period: Wapda collected only Rs36.9 billion against bills of Rs45 billion. During the corresponding period last year, Rs36.3 billion was collected against the bills of Rs40.2 billion.

According to the report, the line losses experienced a slight decline: 27 per cent in August 2002, they stood at 26.6 per this August. The Hyderabad Electric Supply Company, as always, topped the list with 40.8 per cent, followed by Peshawar with 33.5 per cent, Multan with 18.6 per cent and Lahore with 15.5 per cent.