Mirpur residents decry power outages

The residents of the densely populated district of Mirpur in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Friday protested against the increased unscheduled power outages, which were causing severe mental as well as physical misery to the consumers in the scorching summer heat.

They said the power consumers in the area were facing losses worth millions of rupees following the burning out of their domestic power appliances -- not only due to the unscheduled and prolonged power outages but also because the electricity was being supplied with extremely low voltage for many months.

Speaking to media during their protest, the residents pointed out that despite their repeated hue and cry over the pathetic state of affairs caused by the low voltage power supply, the local electricity department authorities were paying no heed to them.

They continued that they had demanded that the AJK electricity department should immediately install  new power supply transformers in various localities of the city to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply with the required voltage.

However, they maintained that this demand fell on deaf ears as the authorities had not fulfilled it yet despite the passage of many months.

“We are running from pillar to post from one office of the local electricity department to another to have the demand accepted, but the authorities have given no positive signs,"  one of the protesters said.

The elders of Mirpur also demanded immediate installation of new high-power transformers in the various parts of the city and the district to avert further losses to the consumers in the form of the burning out of their remaining home power appliances.

They also called for immediately stopping prolonged and frequent unscheduled load shedding in the city.

Drawing the attention of AJK Prime Minister Ch Anwaarul Haq and Power Minister Arshad Hussain towards the ongoing worsening situation, they asked them to immediately take notice of these affairs and order the department to urgently meet their demand.

When the local electricity department was contacted over the issue, an official of the department, requesting anonymity, said the power supply poles and conductors, besides new transformers, were being installed under a phased programme.

"The department has already taken steps to replace the outdated equipment, including transformers, in various localities to ensure  uninterrupted supply of electricity with no voltage problems to the consumers,"  the official added