Not a kind power game

Gvernment and power utility companies have failed to take adequate measures over the years

This time of the year, residents of Karachi pray for rain to gain some respite from the punishing heat. But when it does rain, along with respite, it brings along pain, misery and discomfort. The recent rains in the megalopolis have added to the misery of residents not just in the form of flooded streets and hours-long power outages, but also through exposed power lines resulting in the electrocution of as many as 20 people.

Such tragic incidents have, unfortunately, become a regular feature any time it rains. More often than not it is caused by people inadvertently touching power pylons or exposed wires which, owing to increased moisture and ions in the air, conduct some power to nearby conductive surfaces.

Even though it is a regular occurrence, the government and power utility companies have failed to take adequate measures over the years to either move these exposed wires underground or do more to prevent such deaths. Today, there are just a few areas in the city — those which have been developed recently — which have their power cables underground rather than descending from the skies above.

Now, the city’s police chief has suggested that it may take criminal action against the power utility company if it is proved that the deaths were caused due to the negligence of the company. However, he tempered expectations by stating that cases of electrocution were a ‘technical issue’ and a lot would have to hinge on proving the company’s criminal maleficence or at least culpability.

The fact that the company has survived incidents year after year should point to, in some way, either the legal power they possess or the degree of difficulty in proving criminal intent. Criminal charges or not, it is time for the power utility to decide to take a little more care about the polity it serves. Moreover, moving cables underground will also solve the problems of power pilferage.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 4^th, 2019.

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