HYDERABAD, Nov 1: The Sindh government has made no payment to Hesco though it promised to make part payment of power dues by Oct 20 on Oct 18 when Hesco disconnected and then restored power supply to the government departments in the interior of the province.

Hesco sources told this correspondent on Saturday that not a single paisa had been paid towards the power dues of the Sindh government departments which owed Rs1257.632 million to Hesco.

Of the amount, the provincial government departments owed Rs321.831 million, autonomous bodies Rs60.891 million, district governments Rs81.121 million and taluka municipal administrations Rs793.789 million.

The assurance was extended by the Sindh chief secretary to the Hesco chief executive that Rs325 million would be deposited by Oct 20 whereas a meeting would be held on the question of the payment of remaining amount.

The dues include Rs81 million against the Hyderabad Development Authority, Rs99 million against the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority, Rs30 million against the police and Rs16 million against the education department.

Apart from the Sindh government departments, the federal government departments owed Rs373.187 million to Hesco till September.

The Hyderabad Cantonment Board owes Rs67.837 million, the Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation Rs62.130 million and the Rangers Rs15.017 million.

Hesco had earlier disconnected power supply to the children park, main offices, staff colony and sweepers colony of the HCB.

The issue of payment of dues between Hesco and the HCB is pending litigation in a civil court for adjudication of arrears of Hesco. The controversy over the arrears began in 1996 when the HCB moved the court for adjudication of the arrears claiming that the board regularly paid power bills yet it was issued arrear bills.

Hesco used to provide power supply to the board’s staff and sweepers colonies through bulk meters over which the HCB objected on the ground that separate meters should be installed there.