T HER E are many problems in the country`s power sector that do not require rocket science or foreign assistance to be resolved. For example, for many years now, one-fifth of electricity generation is being stolen across the country.
No political and administrative measures have been taken to eliminate this theft which has been causing a huge loss to the exchequer for long. There are over 500,000 pending applications for new electricity connections despite unutilised surplus generation capacity and power, which translates to annual loss worth over Rs21 billion in revenue terms.
One fails to understand why new connections are not provided. One of the reasonsforthisisunnecessary and time-consuming formalities that the applicants have to take care of. These need to be made simpler and consumer-friendly.
It is astonishing that over 20 per cent of the country`s population does not have access to electricity. Had they been connected to the national grid, it would have helped us in reducing the surplus power which is costing us dearly.
As far back as 2018, the World Bank had warned that lack of connectivity and reliability may be costing the country at least $4.5bn every year. The power sector continues to remain a hurdle in the country`s economic growth. With approximately Rs35bn added every month to the circular debt, the government needs to thrash out the administrative and technical problems in the power sector on a top priority to arrest the ever deteriorating decline in its performance.
