Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Balkh Firms, Individuals Owe DABS 3b Afghanis

Balkh Firms, Individuals Owe DABS 3b Afghanis

MAZAR-I-SHARIF - The power utility in northern Balkh province says some individuals, companies and departments owe it about three billion afghanis in power bills.
Eng. Hamidullah Hamidi, director of Da Afghanistan Breshna Shirkat (DABS) in Balkh, told Pajhwok Afghan News during an exclusive interview some individuals and entities among the defaulters had not paid bills for the past 20 years.
He said the power utility had offered some politicians and local strongmen to pay their arrears in installments.
“There are individuals and companies that have defaulted on bill payments over the last 20 years. The defaulters include politicians, local strongmen, firms and government agencies,” he added.
Hamidi confirmed several people were consuming electricity despite failing to clear the dues. Power supply to them had not been cut off yet, he said.
“We have disconnected power supply to a defaulter 10 times. But then he came and promised to pay off the arrears. When electricity supplies resumes, he breaks his promise,” the official explained.
The director revealed a list of electricity defaulters in the province had been prepared. However, he declined sharing it with the media.
He affirmed the government’s strong commitment to recovering electricity arrears from all defaulters, who might refuse to clear the arrears willingly.
The official was happy with the resolution of the problem of power shortages in northern provinces after the resumption of power imports from Turkmenistan.
He added Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) had long been working to come up with an effective plan to implement a unified tariff structure across the country.
According to him, with the connection of Turkmenistan’s electricity, uniform electricity tariffs will be enforced soon in line with demands from citizens.
Hamidi, however, expressed concern over growing insecurity along the route of power the transmission line from Turkmenistan.
He said after their connection with electricity from Turkmenistan’s, the industrial units had resumed operations that had been suspended due to frequent power outages.
The director urged people to pay their electricity bills in time to avoid supply disconnections and legal action. (Pajhwok)