In crisis: Bajaur residents to remain powerless in Ramazan

Situation is similar in other agencies where power pylons await repairs


Mureeb Mohmand June 06, 2016
Situation is similar in other agencies where power pylons await repairs. PHOTO: FILE

KHAR: It has been around two months since residents of Bajaur Agency have been faced with a power crisis due to the shutting down of a high tension transformer. The issue is likely to persist during Ramazan as well.

An official of Tribal Electric Supply Company told The Express Tribune the transformer, which developed a fault, was sent to Haripur after it was damaged in April. Due to the faults, only five out of twelve power feeders are functioning, he added.

The main sufferers are locals, especially those in far-flung areas where houses get power supply for just two hours a day.

Locals’ routine life, including businesses, is also affected due to the lack of power. In the markets, shopkeepers and workers are facing the consequences. This includes Khar Bazaar.

Khar Traders Association president Lali Shah told The Express Tribune there is no water supply without electricity because the tube wells do not run.

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“Since there has been no steady electric supply for a long time, locals will have to buy potable water during Ramazan, as they have been doing for a while.”

Not only Bajaur Agency, but people of Mohmand Agency are also faced with a power crisis.

A grid station in Mohmand caught fire while the power pylon in the agency is also under repair, depriving many areas of electricity.

The situation is similar in Khyber Agency. Locals believe this to be a Tesco tactic so that the power utility can supply uninterrupted electricity to industries.

They added that the authority has no qualms when it comes to cutting the supply of locals.

The power supply grid station in Mohmand Agency was burnt this year, while the power pylon in the area is also under repair.

This has cut power supply to many areas. It is a similar situation in Khyber Agency where a power pylon has been under repair.

This has caused difficulties for locals who also call it a TESCO tactic to supply uninterrupted power supply to industries without proper billing.

All the while, the common man is likely to continue suffering in Ramazan.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7th, 2016.

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