Arrears of over Rs 8.2 million are outstanding by January 2015 against consumer No 17-38264-0098131, an electricity meter installed at Bhutto mausoleum in Garhi Khuda Bux Bhutto, the final resting place of Bhutto leaders, sources confided to PPI on Wednesday.
According to sources, this bill pertains to 149 months which means nearly 12.5 years default in the payment of the electricity bill. This bill was sent to the caretakers of the mausoleum by SEPCO Naundero authorities but the amount had not yet been deposited.
PPP leader of Naundero, Khalid Memon, told PPI that he had been told by Superintending Engineer, Larkana SEPCO Circle, Nazir Soomro, when he called on him to discuss unprecedented power outage being carried out in Naundero daily where other media persons were also available that the outstanding amount would be paid by the Sindh government and not by the Mazar Committee.
Electricity is supplied to the mausoleum through specially created feeder named Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Feeder (SBBF) which has been taken from Naundero Grid Station. Over 16-hour-long electricity load shedding is being carried out on daily basis on this SBBF.
The sources further said that millions of rupees were outstanding against various influential persons of Naundero and adjoining areas and the villages getting power from this grid station through various feeders, but these politically influential people have so far failed to clear their dues which has caused tremendous hardships and enhanced power outages for those legal consumers who were regularly paying their bills.
Worst affected are small traders and rice millers. The SEPCO authorities have been constantly pressing for payment of dues but influential people have so far failed to pay the outstanding amount or install meters at their new residences and shops.
The sources further said that during the past few years some 900 people got permanent disconnection orders but they continued receiving power supply uninterruptedly. An open hearing is being held in Naundero on Friday at 3:00pm which will be attended by SEPCO officers. According to the sources, the SEPCO authorities have already approved a policy for domestic consumers to deposit half of the outstanding balance amount up to February 27, 2015, and the remaining amount will be waived off permanently. On Wednesday, the open hearing was held in Ratodero for the benefit of poor consumers who have suffered a lot for over reading bills.