KUWAIT CITY, July 16: Some lawmakers asked the Ministry of Electricity and Water to take the necessary measures to prevent a power crisis this summer after the power outage in Abdullah Al-Salem, Mansouriya and Jahra residential areas a few days ago, reports Al-Shahed daily. MP Musallam Al-Barrak called on Minister Salem Al-Othaina to install temporary power generators in Block Three, Al-Qasr, which recently witnessed a series of power cut-offs. MPs Adnan Al-Mutawwa and Askaer Al-Enezi denounced the ministry for its failure to ensure ample power supply, especially this time when temperatures continue to rise to unprecedented levels. On the other hand, sources from the ministry attributed the power outage to the faults in LT cables, affirming that efforts have been intensified to fix the damage quickly. They said maintenance works on the secondary transmission plants are ongoing, so power cuts will be a thing of the past in 2013.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak is expected to chair the weekly executive meeting of the Council of Ministers, which will discuss the report submitted by Minister of Electricity and Water Salem Al-Othaina regarding the findings of a committee that was formed to look into the prices and service provided by the Internet companies, reports Al-Anba daily. Sources said the proposed Public Authority for Communications by the Council of Ministers includes recommendations and alternative plans, and the proposal will be presented to the parliament. Other issues likely to be discussed at the meeting include the headship of the Public Authority for Youths and Sports (PAYS) and the Credit and Savings Bank (CSB) which have become vacant, alongside the license renewal for the stores in Al-Qurain area.

With the development project and government’s work plan, sources said the Minister of State for Planning and Development Abdul-Wahab Al-Haroun will expedite actions to complete the program requirements, which will be forwarded to the parliament at the start of the next session. Meanwhile, there are reports that the Legislative Committee of the Parliament will study a proposal to disburse exceptional salaries to the military officers at the Interior, Defense, National Guard, and the Fire Service after retirement. Sources said the committee has taken necessary steps owing to failure of the Council of Ministers to approve the pension increments for retired soldiers.