KHAIRPUR, Nov 3: The chairman, Wapda, Lt-Gen, Zulfiqar Ali Khan, has said that a scheme to install 45,000 tubewells in the kutcha area of Sindh is ready to materialize.

Talking to a delegation of settlers, led by Syed Shakir Shah, during a visit to Hesco subdivision here on Saturday, he said all preparations had been completed to install the tubewells from Guddu to Kotri barrage, but the provincial government had refused to cooperate saying that there was no need for the tubewells in the kutcha area.

Later, talking to newsmen he brushed aside the impression that influential persons were dealt favourably during recovery of Wapda dues.

He claimed that Wapda had been successful in recovering its dues from all the influential people, including ex-PMAs, MNAs and ministers.

The Wapda chief claimed that strict action had been taken against those big wigs, who were found involved in electricity theft, including Begum Abida Hussain and Malik Mairaj Khalid.

To a query, he admitted that electricity theft was caused due to inability of the SDOs and the Wapda engineers. He added that he would try to minimize corruption in the organization. To a question regarding white meters in Sindh, he disclosed that every electricity meter reduced its speed after ten years, therefore it was necessary to install new ones.

Our Sukkur correspondent adds: The Wapda chairman on Saturday, took drastic steps against Wapda SDO, three supervisors, and meter readers after receiving complaints of over reading, excessive billing against them, at an open kutchery at the Public School Auditorium.

He also conducted an hour-long visit of a poor locality of old Sukkur, where he was shown evidence of the wrongdoings by the local Wapda staff.

Gen Zulfiqar was informed that many of the meter readers used to send the readings/ bills without personally inspecting the meters. On this he ordered the suspension of SDO Farid Soomro, Supervisor Qamar Din, and meter readers Mazhar and Fazal. He directed the WAPDA X-En to hold an urgent enquiry against them and submit a report.

He declared that inefficiency and corruption would not be allowed in the organization and all the black sheep would be brought to book.

The Wapda chairman also visited Nusrat Colony No 6, where he was shown, by councillors Muhammad Akram and Muhammad Baqar, the actual differences of bills with those of meters installed out of the houses.

DIRECTIVE: Wapda chairman Lt.Gen Zulfiqar Ali Khan here on Saturday directed the Hesco officials of the Phuleli division to contact consumers at their homes and resolve their problems on priority basis. He warned that no dereliction of duty will be tolerated, reports our Hyderabad Bureau.