Six months of darkness: Koh UC demands continuous power supply

Reshun power plant not operational after July 2015 floods

CHITRAL: The residents of Koh union council in Chitral have demanded that the federal government solve the issue of power in their areas. Locals have suffered electricity issues for the last six months after Reshun power plant was damaged in the July 2015 floods.

A rally took place on Sunday where well-known residents of the UC were present.

They decried the plight of their area, saying Koh has been treated like a “step-child” by all governments since the creation of Pakistan. One of the locals said no steps were ever taken to reduce poverty in the UC.

Locals demanded people from the area be employed at Golen Gol Hydropower Project.

“The 109-megawatt hydropower project has not benefitted anyone of us,” said a protester. “Wapda is not even willing to offer grade-IV jobs [at the hydropower project]; instead it hires people from Peshawar.” He added around 10 locals died during Golen Gol’s construction some years back but their families were never compensated.

The irate residents demanded diesel, generators and solar panels in the union council so they could receive uninterrupted electricity. They also asked for power lines to be laid in remote areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2^nd, 2016.