Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has demanded the federal government to increase water user charges from fifteen paisa per unit to forty five paisa per unit.
The demand was made by the AJK Hydel Power department in a letter to NEPRA. This information was given to the Senate Standing Committee on Water and Power during its meeting here under the chairmanship of Iqbal Zafar Jhagra.
The meeting was told that the AJK government has drawn the attention that despite increase in electricity tariff, rates for water usage have not been raised which is injustice to the government.
Member of the Committee Senator Ijaz Dhamra strongly protested over not taking up the issue of Nandipur power plan by the committee. He demanded that it was an important matter and must be discussed by the committee. He said he would submit a requisition to debate the issue.
He also said that HESCO in Thatta was sending extra bills to the consumers and the officials were sending bills while sitting in their offices instead on the spot checking of actual consumption.
On a question by Senator Taj Haider, Secretary Water and Power told the committee that royalty and water user charges were being paid to the Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa government.