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Business Recorder
21-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Streetlight meters: Punjab seeks functionality verification survey
ISLAMABAD: The government of Punjab has requested a comprehensive survey to verify the functionality of existing streetlight meters and to ensure the installation of separate energy meters for all unmetered streetlight connections maintained by local governments. The province has also called for a special electricity tariff for streetlights, citing inflated billing practices by distribution companies (Discos). According to the Secretary for Local Governments, Punjab, there are currently 229 Local Governments providing municipal services across the province. Under Section 21(1)(s)(iii) of the Punjab Local Government Act, 2022, the responsibility for the installation and maintenance of street lighting lies with these Local Governments. Despite facing limited financial resources, Local Governments have been striving to maintain street lighting infrastructure. However, the rising cost of electricity—exacerbated by inflated bills—has made it increasingly difficult to sustain these essential services. A major contributing factor to these high bills is the prevalence of unmetered streetlight connections. Currently, Punjab has a total of 177,495 streetlights, of which 99,288 are metered while 78,207 remain unmetered. Due to the lack of proper metering, Discos often bill Local Governments based on average consumption or lump-sum estimates. This results in payments for electricity that is not actually consumed, placing a heavy financial burden on already stretched municipal budgets. Audit reports from the Municipal Corporations of Rawalpindi and Sialkot, presented before the Public Accounts Committee-III (PAC-III) of the Punjab Assembly, flagged significant overpayments. The audit cited unjustified payments of Rs. 69.048 million in Rawalpindi and Rs. 70.667 million in Sialkot for streetlight electricity bills. After reviewing the audit findings and the responses of the concerned departments, PAC-III issued the following directive to the Local Government and Community Development Department: 'The Committee directed the Administrative Department to prepare a comprehensive reference for submission to the Federal Government, emphasizing the rationalization of electricity tariffs, installation of separate meters, and exploration of alternate solutions.' In a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Power Division, the Secretary for Local Governments, Punjab, requested that in light of the PAC directions, necessary instructions be issued to all relevant Discos in Punjab to: (i) conduct a comprehensive survey to verify the functionality of all already-installed streetlight meters and ;(ii) expedite the installation of separate energy meters for all unmetered streetlight connections maintained by Local Governments. The letter also urges to take up the matter with the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) to introduce a special electricity tariff for streetlights, given that these services constitute a vital public utility. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Parents fume over ‘late fees' despite advance payments
Hyderabad: Many parents are outraged as schools slap them with daily late fees — even when fees are paid for an entire term in advance. With no option to pay monthly, families are questioning why they're being penalised for minor delays in lump-sum payments made just three times a argue that its unreasonable to charge a per-day late fee. Schools demand full-term fees upfront, yet charge Rs 20 or more per day as a late fee if the payment is even slightly delayed — leaving parents feeling cornered."My child's school set April 15 as the last date to pay the first term fee. I paid just 20 days later and had to cough up Rs 400 in late fees," said a parent from a CBSE school in Himayatnagar. "We're already paying fees for four months in advance, and now we're being penalised too. It seems like schools are finding new ways to exploit parents." Another parent, whose child goes to a school in SR Nagar, said he too had to pay a late fee for about 45 days. "I was not given any other option. The school refused to accept the fee unless I paid the late charges," he parents believe schools are taking advantage of the lack of fee regulation in Telangana. "They increase fees every year, charge arbitrarily under various heads, and now add late fees to the mix," said Venkat Sainath K, organising secretary of the Hyderabad School Parents' Association (HSPA). "The govt must act. We need a regulatory commission that clearly defines what schools can charge."Meanwhile, some school principals defended the charges, claiming the late fee ensures financial discipline. But the Telangana Education Commission (TEC) doesn't agree. "Schools cannot arbitrarily collect late fees. This is unacceptable," said PL Vishweshwar Rao, member of TEC. "If we receive a formal complaint against any school, the commission will take action." Will introduce fee regulation: PanelHyderabad: The cabinet subcommittee tasked with implementing the Right to Education and fee regulation in Telangana met with parents and school managements on Monday. The committee reiterated its commitment to introducing a school fee regulatory framework in the state. "We've briefed the committee about the situation. Schools have increased fees by nearly 60% this year, anticipating that regulations might finally come into force. We hope the govt acts swiftly now," said a member of the Hyderabad School Parents' Association (HSPA).
