May 20, 2022 (MLN): National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has imposed a fine of Rs65 million on Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) for the charges of negligence resulting in fatal incidents during the period from July 2019 to June 2021, issued a press release by the authority on Friday.
NEPRA upon receipt of reports of 39 deaths in different electrocution incidents during the aforementioned period, constituted a 02-member Investigation Committee under Section 27A of NEPRA Act 1997 to visit the respective areas, conduct an investigation, ascertain and determine the facts and possible violations of NEPRA Laws, Rules and Regulations, the notice said.
The Investigation Committee’s report revealed that 25 out of the total 39 fatalities occurred due to IESCO’s negligence. These fatalities included 10 IESCO employees and 15 persons from the general public.
In light of the above, the authority issued a show-cause notice to IESCO on16-11-2021 under Section 27B of the NEPRA Act, 1997 and later provided an opportunity of hearing to IESCO on 03-02-2022. Based on the evidence available on record, submissions of IESCO and relevant provisions of the laws, rules and regulations; the authority observed that IESCO has failed to discharge its statutory obligations to maintain safety standards as laid down in the relevant laws, code and manual.
The authority has, therefore, imposed a fine of Rs65 million on IESCO. NEPRA has also observed that IESCO has awarded compensation to the tune of Rs3.5 million to the families of its employees who lost their lives in these electrocution accidents, however, compensation of Rs750,000 has been awarded to some of the families of deceased persons from the general public but not all (15 Victims).
NEPRA has, therefore, directed IESCO to compensate all the families of the deceased from the general public (15 persons) the same amount compensated to the families of the deceased employees (Rs3.5 million each) and documentary evidence on this behalf shall be shared with the authority. The authority has instructed IESCO to ensure jobs to the dependents of each of the deceased families, it added.
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