ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Water and Power directed to expedite work on the much delayed 220KV Malakand grid station and declared that its members will distribute cheques among people whose land had been acquired for the establishment of grid station on January 30.
The Senate Standing Committee on Water and Power met with its Chairman Senator Zahid Khan. The ANP senator informed the meeting that due to efforts of the committee, Malakand Administration was able to save Rs50 billion in payments to land owners. This saving was reflected in the books of NTDC. Senator Nisar Ahmed Khan said that Malakand was the only division where 97 percent consumers pay electricity bills.
Senator Zahid Khan said that presently Mardan grid station was supplying electricity to nine districts of Malakand. He said due to length of transmission lines and obsolete system the area with highest percentage of bill paying consumers was facing up to 18 hours of loadshedding. He said that after completion Malakand grid station would provide smooth supply of electricity to nine districts.
The officials concerned apprised the committee that though the grid station was approved by the previous it delayed due to a dispute between Wapda and local land owners. On the occasion, the Malakand Deputy Commissioner and the NTDC MD assured that 39 local land owners would be paid all outstanding dues to purchase land for the grid station.
The committee directed local administration to complete necessary documentation and the committee would itself distribute the cheques among local land owners on January 30.
