Deaths due to electrocution, heatwave not acceptable: NEPRA Chairman
He said, "I am the only "Thanedar [inspector] of the energy sector."
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) Chairman on Wednesday said that deaths due to electrocution and heatwave were not acceptable at any cost.
He said this during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Energy.
The NEPRA chairman asked K-Electric to provide plan for counter heatwave, adding that if there any “Thanedar” [inspector] of the energy sector, that is him.
K-Electric CEO Monis Alvi said that 15 out of 33 died in their homes during the monsoon season, while 11 died due to electric poles and street lights, adding that they were waiting for the NEPRA report and it would be implemented in letter and spirit.
Meanwhile, Minister for Power Umer Ayub said that the way K-electric officials weren’t present at the spot, the way they should have been.
On August 7, a NEPRA investigation team had declared that K-Electric is responsible for the deaths of 20 people in Karachi during the recent rains.
The four-member team visited Karachi soon after the rains and submitted a report to the NEPRA head office in Islamabad. In the report it compiled its observations during its visit to Karachi.
It had said that K-Electric was responsible for the 20 electrocution deaths and has recommended action be taken against the company.
Accusing K-Electric of negligence and incompetence, the report also found K-Electric’s energy transmission system defective. It raised questions about the utility company’s operations as well.
It had not been capable of supplying safe and uninterrupted electricity to the people of Karachi, read the report.
During its visit, the team visited multiple areas in Karachi as well as K-Electric’s office. It also spoke to the families of the electrocution victims.
