NTDC dismayed over imposition of Rs 10 million fine by regulator

National Transmission and Despatch Company Limited (NTDC) expressed its dismay over the imposition of fine of Rs 10 million for alleged delay in completion of grids and transmission line projects. Declaring the Fine as being ill-conceived and excessive, NTDC spokesperson stated that the teams of NTDC are working day and night to complete the projects so as to eradicate the menace of load shedding from the country.
Delays in execution and completion of the projects, if any, is not willful rather due to the circumstances which are beyond the reasonable control of NTDC like severe right of way problems, stay by the courts in different locations and poor law and order situation.
It is not out of place to state that under section 46 of the NEPRA Act 1997, the Authority has been given power to make rules with the approval of the federal government to carry out the purpose of the Act where through the NEPRA Fines Rules 2002 have been notified which authorize the authority to seek information, impose fines and penalties for failure to furnish such information.
It is vehemently pointed out that there is no provision under section 46 of the NEPRA Act which deals with administration of the contracts placed by NTDC on various contractors or agencies for the execution of its projects. The fines which are authorized to be imposed under the Act, have been circumscribed under section 46(2)(m) of the Act, which only envisages the imposition of fines in case of failure of any licensee to provide information as required by the Authority. There is hardly any provision in the Act which provide any authority to NEPRA to impose fine on licensee in connection with the administration of its contracts placed on the various contractors for finalization of its projects. NTDC feels that unfortunately, NEPRA has entered into an exercise of supervising the execution of contracts of the licensee which is totally against the Act and the Rules made there under. NTDC spokesperson stated that NTDC is considering assailing the Order of imposition of Rs 10 million fine.
Reflecting on the performance of NTDC, the spokesperson stated that NTDC has completed the construction and energized 500/220/132 KV grid station Rahim Yar Khan, 220/132 KV grid station Lal Sohanra in Southern Punjab, 500 kV New Lahore grid station in central Punjab and 220 KV grid station Mansehra in KPK in the current month.145 km long 500 KV Double Circuit Neelum Jhelum Transmission Line has also been completed, recently.
It is pertinent to mention here that besides a number of important transmission lines one specific issue as pointed out by NEPRA pertaining to 220 KV Uch-Sibbi transmission line, the law and order situation of Balochistan is a known fact, hence, the security issues resorted to its delay, the work has to be done along with added security measures. However, 326 towers have been erected so far, out of 115 km, stringing work of 62 km has been completed and remaining is being carried out on war footing.
However, the grid stations at Chakdara, Mansehra and Nowshehra were delayed due to right of way problems, despite all the hurdles the grid station at Chakdara and D I Khan will be completed by April 2018.