LAHORE, Oct 31: All electro-mechanical meters purchased by Wapda are according to specifications and the recent finding of a fault is a clear case of tampering and must not be linked to manufacturing of the meters, according to an authority’s committee.

The critics, however, refuse to accept the findings of the committee, calling it a clear case of cover-up.

They say the meters have been found vulnerable to magnetic pulls and pressures, which should not be the case according to the specifications. Wapda is bent on defending the meter manufacturers for reasons best known to those involved in their purchase.

It may be mentioned here that Wapda had set up a committee last week to look into the design of electro-mechanical meters after they were found vulnerable to magnetic pressure. A consumer, who was caught by the Lahore Electric Supply Company, has installed a powerful magnet under the meter which stalled its operation. Hitherto, both Wapda and the manufacturers have maintained that these meters are not vulnerable to magnetic pulls.

Lesco sent the meter to laboratory for a test where it was found affected by magnetic pull. Subsequently, the case was referred to the Wapda chairman, who called all manufacturers and repeated the process in front of them. After finding problem with meters, the chairman formed a committee headed by the chief engineer (design).

Speaking to Dawn, CE (design) Azhar Iqbal insisted that the meters had been purchased according to the specifications. The authority had a very stringent specifications regime and each and every meter was tested according to them.

The reported case of magnet installation should be taken as an attempt to tamper with the meter and there was no fault in it. No meter has so far been manufactured, which is free from tampering.

Anyone installing magnet under the meter leaves traces of tampering that could be easily detected. The main aluminium plate falling down and the Wapda staff could detect the fault very easily.

“All meters do not respond to the magnet in the same manner. Some of the meters run faster than normal instead of stopping. The magnet works both ways,” he said.

The critics, nevertheless, maintain that the specifications of meters clearly say it must be safe against magnetic pulls. They do not stipulate field strength that it should safe up to a certain level of magnet pressure and could be vulnerable beyond that level.

Even if the authority wants to defend its purchases, it should review meter specifications in order to make them more safe, they suggest.