PESHAWAR, Dec 31: Thousands of internally displaced persons from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas have been spending nights at Jalozai camp, Nowshera district in darkness for one week due to suspension of electricity over non-payment of bills.
Official sources told Dawn on Monday that the Peshawar Electric Supply Company had cut off power supply to the camp due to non-payment of Rs10 million electricity dues.
They said Provincial Disaster Management Authority, which catered to provide facilities to IDPs, was unable to clear the Rs10 million outstanding power dues for November and December.
The sources said the government had accommodated IDPs from Khyber and Bajaur agencies at the camp.
“We have been spending nights in darkness for the last one week,” said Haji Gulbatt, a tribal elder, at the camp.
The sources said Pesco gave a two days notice to PDMA last week to clear dues before cutting off power supply.
They said suspension of electricity had affected water supply to over 167,140 consumers, health clinics, especially mother-child health units in the camp. An official said the authority had arranged tankers to ensure water supply to the residents of the camp for drinking and washing purposes.
“But this option is expensive and can’t be continued for a long time,” he said. He said Pesco gave a two days notice to PDMA and disconnected electricity to the camp the other day.
The sources said PDMA had paid Rs40 million to the company on account of the provision of electricity to Jalozai camp until Oct 2012.
They said the authority, which was dependent on the provincial government and foreign donors to fulfill basic needs of IDPs, had run short of cash and would request the government to sanction special grant to clear Pesco dues.
The sources said previously, provincial Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti had sanctioned Rs40 million for the payment of the power dues.
“Once again, PDMA will request the provincial government to release grant to pay power dues to restore electricity to the camp,” an official said.
He said foreign donors provided shelter, food, health facilities and other facilities to IDPs in camp, but did not provide funds under the head of electricity.
They said neither the federal government nor donors released funds for clearing the bills of the electricity used by IDPs at the camp.
The sources said the orders of the Peshawar High Court about the release of funds for smooth provision of basic facilities, including electricity, to IDPs at Jalozai camp had not been implemented yet. The bench had directed the provincial finance division on Nov 21 to release sufficient funds to Fata Civil Secretariat for the purpose.
