Energy crisis: Citizens protest against unscheduled power outage

Demonstration staged on Canal Road; consumers say power cuts have worsened recently

LAHORE: A number of residents of Taj Bagh, Harbanspura and adjoining areas staged a protest demonstration on Thursday against unscheduled electricity load shedding.

The protesters burnt tyres and blocked Canal Road for traffic causing great inconvenience to commuters. They shouted slogans against the government and the Lahore Electricity Supply Company (LESCO).

Muhammad Jamil, a trader, told The Express Tribune there had been a drastic increase in the unscheduled load shedding over the couple of days.

“Long hours of load shedding have affected businesses and life’s routines. In many areas water supply is also affected,” he said.

Fauzia, a citizen, said the duration of power cuts had gone up following Eid holidays.

“There was load shedding for eight to 10 hours before Ramazan. This has now gone up to 12 hours a day adding to people’s miseries in the scorching summer,” she said.

Similar complaints were received from McLeod Road, Chauburji, Samanabad, Bund Road, Sabzazar, Township and Johar Town.

“The duration of load shedding has been increased… weather is quite unpleasant in the city owing to high humidity,” said Ashraf.

On Wednesday night, he said, residents of Township had to brave a power outage for two hours. He said backup batteries were entirely drained before power supply was resumed.

Ashraf also complained of low voltages in the area. “I don’t think that the government will be able to overcome load shedding by 2018. The situation has not improved a lot.”

According to the Ministry of Water and Power the country faces a shortfall of more than 4,200MW.

Power generation, including hydel, thermal and solar, is around 15,600MW and demand is nearly 20,000MW.

At a recent meeting of the Senate’s Standing Committee, Water and Power Secretary Younas Dagha had said the country would have surplus electricity by 2018 after the completion of power projects that will add 10,000MW. However, he said, load shedding might not be fully overcome by then owing to some system constraints.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 22^nd, 2016.