April 30, 1977

Con Ed is granted $45.4-million elec rate increase instead of $249.8-million increase it requested; PSC accepts staff rept that co is strong, with abundant cash and in no need for additional financing until '82; acts to more than double differential between summer and winter rates; will allow co to pass through to customers only 75% of pay increases it will negotiate with Utility Workers of Amer and IBEW; move is designed to give co incentive to bargain tough; comm will allow co to pass through only 90% of any increases in real-estate taxes (M)

Growing number of pol and mil analysts believe S Africa is using its top-secret uranium enrichment plant at Pelindaba to develop weapons-grade uranium; believe that Prime Min John Vorster Govt intends to build bombs as deterrent to black-ruled states to north, which have vowed to use force if necessary to overthrow S Africa's ruling white minority; Atomic Energy Bd chmn Abraham J Roux denies weapons are being made and that any Israelis are employed; map (M)

Pir of Pagaro, acting leader of Pakistan Natl Alliance, says repr of Saudi King Khalid and United Arab Emirates Foreign Min Ahmed Khalifa al-Suweidi offered to use their good offices for betterment of Pakistan and of Moslems in gen; says 2 reprs met with prominent opposition leaders being detained by Bhutto at Sihala; hints compromise acceptable to opposition might permit Bhutto to retain office pending new elections; Govt, on eve of planned demonstration in Rawalpindi, restricts entry to city, reinforces its paramil forces, bans public assemblies and warns that those who indulge in violence and arson will be shot on sight; opposition figures rept arrests of followers by paramil units stationed outside Rawalpindi; score Bhutto charge that US is funding opposition; opposition lawyer Zahurul Haq denies contact with any outside power; US charge d'affaires Peter Constable delivers protest note to Foreign Min; US State Dept calls Bhutto's charges 'groundless'; illus (M)

Agron arrested, Phoenix, Ariz; correction officials and Agron's friends and relatives speculate on motive for his fleeing so near to release; Agron reptdly called Fishkill Supt Theodore Reid after absconding and volunteered to return if he would not be punished; Reid informed him that he could not promise total amnesty; Agron's prison career noted; his por (M)

HR, 241-64, passes bill for Fed strip-mine controls; bill bitterly opposed by indus; Sen passage is assured; Pres Carter has said he will pass final version of bill but also has urged strengthening it; bill includes ban on strip mines in environmentally sensitive Western valleys that were not in active production last Jan; other provisions