BATTAGRAM: Residents of Allai tehsil, Battagram have threatened to forcibly disconnect power supply to the national grid from the Allai Khwar Hydro Power Plant (AKHPP) if their demands regarding employment and load-shedding are not met by December 26.
While addressing the media on Monday, Barki Tehreek Allai Chairman Ghulamullah said the people of Allai sacrificed their land and water resources for national interest and allowed the construction of AKHPP. However, in return, Wapda did not only deprive locals from jobs at the facility, but has also disconnected electricity to the area, he claimed. The Barki Tehreek is a local-level organisation aimed to highlight the area’s electricity issues.
According to Ghulam, Allai’s grid station was receiving electricity from the plant, but Wapda disconnected the supply two months ago and all the generated electricity is being supplied to Punjab now. “We have been exposed to the worst load-shedding since we have no other means of power supply,” said Ghulam.
Dr Bahis Khan, another member of Barki Tehreek Allai, said the association had brought their electricity woes to Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali’s notice but to no avail. “The government is treating the people of Allai as stepchildren and depriving them of their rights,” said Khan.
Local PTI leader Naeem Shaheen, who was also present at the occasion, said AKHPP produces 121 megawatts but not a single megawatt was being supplied to locals. According to Shaheen, people from Shangla, Swat, Mardan and other areas were given jobs at the plant, usurping the rights of locals. “Hundreds of educated young people remain unemployed in Allai and Battagram areas,” said Shaheen.
He criticised the government for not allocating a share of the royalty for the development of Allai tehsil where the project has been functional for over a year. Shaheen also accused the district’s elected representatives of ignoring their constituents.
The association’s leaders warned that if Wapda and federal government fail to accept their demands by December 26, the tehreek’s workers and villagers would forcibly sever the plant’s transmission line to the national grid.
When approached for comments, a sub-divisional officer (SDO) from Pesco Hazara confirmed that the local grid supplying electricity to Battagram and Mansehra has not been receiving electricity from the AKHPP. Requesting anonymity, he said the supply was discontinued on the orders of senior officials.
The SDO termed the residents’ stance genuine. He explained that power supply lines from the national grid station to Haripur are double circuit, while those from Haripur up to Battagram are single circuit with a capacity of 400 ampere. “During peak hours, when consumption reaches an increased load of 800 amperes, Pesco is forced to resort to unscheduled load-shedding to protect the entire supply system.”
According to the SDO, Battagram district requires 9 megawatts which is supplied from the national grid but the major reason for load-shedding is the single-circuit supply system.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 28th, 2014.
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