Lahore: Power overbilling protest intensifies

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Jawwad Rizvi
Protests against the over billing further intensified on Tuesday as a number of protest demonstrations were taken out in the different cities of the province.

The violent protesters reportedly were badly trashed by the police to control the mob. On the other hand, the Distribution Companies (DISCOS) officials were seeking government protection from the angry people.

The people facing 12 to 18 hours loadshedding have come out on roads against over billing. Majority of the protests against the over billing were held in the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) jurisdictions while in the other cities of the province people protested both against the over billing and loadshedding as well.

In Lahore, the protest incidents took place in Baghbanpura and Wagah area where the people encircled the Lahore Electric Supply Company offices.

They also tried to burn the equipments, vehicles and record of the Lahore Electric Supply Company offices, but the police dispersed the violent people before any untoward incident.

Similarly, protests demonstrations against the LESCO officials on over charging were held in Muridkay and Raiwind. The police badly trashed the protesters there.

On the other hand, people of middle and lower middle classes of the city are reportedly planning not to submit their electricity bills.

The people are holding coroner meetings to take out protests and make decisions of not paying the electricity bills.

The News has learnt that people from the different localities of the city including Jallo More, Manawan, Tajpura, Daroghawala, Salamat Pura, Bund Road, Baghbanpura, China Scheme, Green Town, Shahdra and other such localities have been holding such meetings.

The elders of the mohalas have been asking for unity for such decision as some people pay bills and others do not, and resultantly, the Lahore Electric Supply Company disconnect power supply to the defaulters. They are also planning to forcefully stop the LESCO teams FROM disconnecting the electricity in case non payment of dues or meter reading

Meanwhile, meter reading department sources in the Lahore Electric Supply Company said that there were some problems of over billings in few sub divisions of the company.

They said that meter readers of the divisions were black listed and the company had been closely monitoring these sub-divisions.

When contacted, the LESCO spokesman said there was no over billing issue in the company. He said that customer service centre of the Lahore Electric Supply Company were operational and any customer could correct his bill just visiting there.

He added that the bills were increased due to tariff increased by the NEPRA and the Lahore Electric Supply Company was not responsible for it.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=142442