News
Monday, April 26, 2010
Agencies to monitor use of electricity
LAHORE: The Punjab government has asked intelligence agencies to monitor all government offices, markets and other business centres across the province so that the government’s campaign to save electricity can be implemented with full force, sources told Daily Times on Sunday.
The provincial government, led by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, has given the task of enforcing its energy conservation measures to the intelligence agencies, who will monitor marriage ceremonies, restaurants, petrol and CNG filling stations, markets and government offices across Punjab to enforce the energy saving plan.
The Punjab police’s Special Branch has been ordered to present a report on daily basis through the regional office to the headquarters.
The federal government has also ordered the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to present reports to the Centre through provincial headquarters, the sources said.
They said the intelligence agencies have been tasked with monitoring the misuse of electricity and air-conditioners by officials of less than BPS-20.
The sources said the daily reports would help the government in taking action against the violators. The Punjab government also ordered the checking of electricity bills in order to evaluate the difference between past and present bills, the sources said.
Meanwhile, despite all measures being taken to control the ongoing power outages, industries are facing severe financial losses due to 15 to 16 hours of load shedding, a private TV channel reported.
The channel said industries in Sindh had become paralysed, with people in Sakhar, Okara, Ghotki, Nawabshah, Thatta, Larkana and Mirpur Khas facing difficulties in obtaining water for daily use.
In Hyderabad, eight to 10 hours of load shedding was observed on Sunday. Also, Faisalabad police arrested at least 13 people from marriage halls, theatres and hotels, booking them for wasting electricity.
A private TV channel said the district administration of Faisalabad took action under the prime minister’s energy conservation programme. aaj kal report/daily times monitor
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk