LAHORE: The Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) administration on Saturday demoted its grade-17 sub-divisional officer (SDO)/assistant manager (operations) to line superintendent-1 (grade-16) and removed a feeder incharge from service for negligence that led to injuring a man and a woman after the electricity wires fell on them in Garden Town some time back.

According to official sources, Shahbaz and Fatima had received injuries after the power wires fell on them in Garden Town area in July last year. The company initiated a detailed inquiry against officials of the subdivision including SDO. During the inquiry, the negligence on the part of SDO Shahid Raza (the then SDO Garden Town presently posted as Raiwind SDO) and then feeder incharge Naeem Kamal (presently posted at Gulberg subdivision) was proved.

Following findings of the inquiry, the officer concerned downgraded the SDO for a period of one year and dismissed the feeder incharge from service with immediate effect.

On the other hand, the Lesco teams during the ongoing operation against the power pilferage detected 19 people as stealing electricity directly from the main 11-Kv lines in various parts of Shalimar division.

The teams also submitted applications to the respective police stations for registration of FIRs against them. They also removed meters, wires etc from where they were stealing electricity.

Meanwhile, the company in collaboration with tehsildars (recovery) on Saturday recovered nearly Rs16 million from 517 chronic defaulters in all the five districts- Lahore, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Kasur and Okara- during 153 days of its campaign. The teams also detected another 423 customers stealing electricity through various means during the last 24 hours.

CBD: Chief Executive Officer of the Punjab Central Business District Development Authority Imran Amin presided over a meeting to assess the progress of the Walton Road Upgradation Project.

The meeting emphasised clear directives to expedite the project’s completion before the onset of the monsoon season.

Technical Executive Director Riaz Hussain, Director Construction Asif Babar, Director Architecture Sameer Aftab, Project Director Nespak Jamshed Janjua and senior officials of NLC attended the meeting.

Mr Amin on the occasion sought ensuring the project’s completion before the upcoming monsoon season. “NLC and the contractors must work collaboratively with all workforce and other resources available,” he said.

Earlier, Executive Director Riaz Hussain briefed the participants on the project indicating that backfilling work is ongoing after conduit excavation and concrete pouring. Additionally, roadworks have commenced alongside backfilling. Backfilling is expected to conclude in the next few days, after which work on ADA Nullah upgrade will commence. The work on Major Ishaq Shaheed Flyover piles caps is ongoing.

To ensure smooth traffic flow during construction, alternative routes have been provided along Walton Road. The completion of the Walton Road Upgradation Project will address sewage and traffic issues on a permanent basis.

The ongoing projects include continuous day and night work on the flyovers at the CBD Punjab Boulevard Walton Railway Crossings. All 164 girders for the flyovers have been casted, and the construction of abutment walls, piers, and transoms is completed. The concrete pouring of the transoms for both flyovers has been completed, with 45 per cent of the MSC wall is also completed and the process of placing girders will commence shortly.

“Both flyovers are being constructed with a special design, considering all technical aspects. Efforts are being made to expedite the completion of this project. Work is also ongoing on the approach roads, while asphalt work on Boulevard Punjab is nearing completion,” Mr Hussain explained.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2024