So much electricity is produced in the district but it still faces extensive loadshedding
MIANWALI: I am writing with reference to the power riots that took place in my city some days ago, in which at least two people lost their lives as a result of police firing. There is a background to the anger that erupted that day and that relates to the fact that loadshedding in the district has been severe for the past few years.
Around 1,000 megawatts of electricity is produced in the district and the demand cannot be more than one-tenth of that. Hence, local residents wonder that if so much electricity is produced and provided to the national grid and then on to the rest of the country, why is their district being subjected to such extensive loadshedding?
At this point, I also want to point out that while the district has two hydropower plants, it also has the Chashma facility and there is the menace of radioactivity from the latter. Areas close to the Chashma plant are densely populated and cases of skin and lung cancer have been reported from among the local population.
The government must launch a mass awareness programme in the area regarding the threat of radioactivity to humans and how it is carcinogenic, i.e. causes cancers. At the very least, the quality of medical care provided to the locals should be improved so that those who suffer from such diseases caused by radioactivity can be provided proper treatment.
Muhammad Uzair Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, July 8th, 2011.
