QUETTA:
Three days after unidentified men attacked power pylons in Balochistan, electricity supply has remained suspended in as many as 14 districts of the province.
Three pylons were blown up early on Saturday, damaged a 220KV transmission line near Mach Town in Bolan district, which disrupted power supply to Quetta and 14 other districts. However, fearing insecurity, the line is yet to be fixed while another 132KV line is being repaired.
“I cannot give a timeframe for restoration of power supply,” said an official of the Quetta Electric Supply Company (Qesco). “We have started repairs but I don’t know if the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) has started or not.”
Sources said that the NTDC had dispatched teams and equipment to repair the line. “The teams will start repairing the line today (Wednesday) and then we will be able to give a timeframe for restoration of power,” a NTDC official said.
Following the attack, power shortfall had exceeded 1,200 megawatts and caused massive loadshedding in Quetta while supply was completely suspended to other districts. Affected districts include Quetta, Kalat, Mastung, Khuzdar, Naushki, Bolan, Qila Saifullah, Qila Abdullah, Ziarat and Naushki.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 23rd, 2011.
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