Turning up the heat: KESC office burns as power outages continue

Power utility company says that damages from attacks will delay maintenance work.

KARACHI:

There was no respite for those suffering from the increasing temperature as the load shedding by the Karachi Electricity Supply Company (KESC) continued and so did the protests for the fourth consecutive day.

Residents of different localities suffering from power outages, including Liaquatabad, Shah Faisal Colony, Hijrat Colony and Pak Colony, protested on the streets while burning tyres. The demonstrations blocked the flow of traffic causing a massive traffic jam on Shara-e-Pakistan and the routes linked to it.

The KESC office in Liaquatabad was attacked and protestors beat staff members present at the office. Equipment in the office was reportedly damaged before it was set on fire.

During the violent protest, vehicles were also damaged as protestors pelted the passing vehicles with stones. According to the residents, they have been without electricity and water for the last four days despite the KESC’s reassurance that both would be restored. They complained that the power suspension was affecting patients as well as children. Upon reaching the scene of protest, a heavy contingent of police and Rangers resorted to aerial firing and also used tear gas shells to disperse the protestors. It took the law enforcers around five hours to take control of the situation.

It took the fire fighters almost two hours to extinguish the fire at the KESC office with the help of four fire tenders.

Similarly, another KESC office came under attack in Shah Faisal Colony as people protested against water and power shortage in the Hijrat Colony area. While chanting slogans against KESC, the protestors blocked the road and attacked passing vehicles. A heavy contingent of police reached the site and fired tear gas shells to control the situation. Residents of Pak Colony also staged a protest against load shedding.

Other side of the story

According to a statement issued by the KESC, their office in the Khokar Club area of Shah Faisal Colony was attacked by a mob of defaulting power consumers. They alleged that the two faulty PMT, namely Rafi Garden PMT and RETA plot / Usman Medicos PMT, supply power to approximately 500 consumers. There is reportedly a cumulative default of around Rs6 million and a recovery ratio of only 50 per cent. KESC said that replacement of defaulting overloaded PMT’s is initiated once the outstanding dues are cleared.

Condemning the recent upsurge in violence against the power utility, the KESC spokesperson said that consumers need to realise their responsibility and not assume that they can use free electricity.

Customer services officer, Azam, and assistant manager, Farooq, were beaten severely by the protestors. Two other area office staff members who were wounded were sent to the Sindh Government Hospital.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2012.