ISLAMABAD - Opposition in the Senate Tuesday claimed that Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) is acquiring illegally extra minimum charges from consumers in spite of worst loadshedding across the country. The Opposition and treasury benches also expressed great concern over the fact that the consumers were being levied two to three times extra charges through their electricity bills. They claimed that on the one hand the people were facing heavy loadshedding while on the other hand the WAPDA was sending extra charges bills to the consumers. During question hour, Allama Muhammad Abbas Komaili of MQM raised the question as to why the WAPDA was taking minimum charges along with energy charges in spite of worst loadshedding. He said that the government could take minimum charges from the consumers when electricity was being provided constantly. The supply of electricity was interrupted due to loadshedding, he claimed. He alleged that the government was  illegally receiving minimum charges from the people.    Haji Adeel of Awami National Party (ANP) said that he had received three-time extra electricity bill in this month. He said that the people of Pakhtoonkhawa were facing unscheduled loadshedding for eight to ten hours.        Minster for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf could not give satisfactory answer to the question of Senator Komali. He said that the government was giving subsidy on the electricity to the people. About the bills for extra charges, he said that in this regard an inquiry would be conducted. He said strict action would be taken against those officers who were found guilty. The Opposition and treasury members demanded that the issue of minimum charges should be referred to a standing committee of water and power. The Presiding Officer Rukhsana Zuberi referred the issue to the standing committee on the demand of the House. Replying to another question, Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said the country was facing power shortage of 4,000 MW which would be overcome at the end of next year. When asked why the power shortage was not reduced in spite of heavy rains in the country, the Minister said that water level in Tarbela Dam had risen to the required level, while the level of Mangla Dam was still low due to less rains in its catchment areas. He said that due to less rain, water level in Mangla Dam was still low and the production was still 600 megawatt less than the target. He said that IPP was generating less power from its capacity.   He ensured the Upper House that the government would overcome power outage within next three years. Professor Khurshid Ahmed said that the government adopted a comprehensive planning for power according to variation of seasons and population. He said that the government should plan to overcome shortage of power in the next three to five years. The Minister said that the government had taken solid steps to overcome the shortage of electricity. In this regard, the government had chalked out a comprehensive plan for the next three years.      He said when the government took charge, the country was facing shortage of 3500 MW, and, therefore, it was not a matter of a day or two to overcome the situation. To a question the Minister said that the government had allocated Rs 80 million for Munda Dam project. He said the PC-II of detailed design of the project had been sent to the Planning Commission and the work would be started after availability of funds. The Minister said that the government did not provide any direct incentive for power production, rather the province concerned was given share in the net hydel profit and the NWFP was getting Rs 6 billion under this head.