Power cuts hit Hyderabad residents in sweltering heat

Hours-long load-shedding also disrupts city’s water supply

HYDRABAD:

The shortage of water and an increase in the hours of load shedding have hit Hyderabad amid sweltering summer and the holy month of Ramazan during which the people fast for around 15 hours.

The Hyderabad Electric Supply Company claims it has been facing over 45% shortfall in the demand and supply of electricity from the national grid.

The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), a subsidiary of Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA), blames HESCO for the water supply and drainage problems which have been affecting the citizens. At a meeting on Monday, Divisional Commissioner Hyderabad Nadeem-ur-Rehman Memon expressed dismay over the officials of HDA and WASA.

He said supply of clean drinking water is a right of Hyderabad’s residents. Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s MPA Nasir Qureshi, specifically named Managing Director of WASA Zahid Hussain Khemtio for the said problems. According to him, the MD does not reply to the public complaints and even the complaints of the elected representatives fall on his deaf ears.

Khemtio on his part blamed HESCO and the protesting staff of WASA for the water supply and drainage woes. He told the meeting that the employees of WASA have been protesting for months for the payment of salaries which are they are not receiving for many months.

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He said the HA has been discussing the problem with the authorities of HESCO who have assured them that a load management schedule will be prepared in consultation with the authority. HESCO spokesman Sadiq Kubar informed on Sunday that the company is receiving 600 megawatt from the nation grid against its demand of 1,100 MW electricity, leaving 500 MW shortfall.

Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad Fuad Ghaffar Soomro said a lack of coordination between WASA and Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has been creating problems for the citizens in the shape of lack of cleanliness and sewage issues. The officials of the two services oriented organization do not maintain close contact, aggravating the problems, he added.

The DC suggested that stringent action should be taken against the irresponsible officers. The Commissioner Memon gave one week to the MD of WASA to resolve drainage issues and ensure supply of clean drinking water. He said after a week he would visit Hyderabad city along with MPA Nasir Qureshi to check implementation of his directives by WASA.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 12^th, 2022.