Non-payment of dues: PESCO fears backlash after leaving Badhaber dark

Officials resorted to cutting main feed to avoid mob attacks from villagers.

PESHAWAR:

Officials of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) knew the risks involved when they disconnected the power supply to several villages in Badhaber over their failure to pay electricity bills on Friday. They carried out the day’s work, thankfully, without any altercation with residents. But now, officials await the often-violent reaction of locals after such instances, with a Pesco staffer saying they have not only been threatened before but have also faced physical attacks, as well as aerial firing.

“The area till now was out of bounds for Pesco employees who wanted to carry out their duties”, informed an official at the Badhaber sub-division, adding Friday’s step of disconnecting power supply to the villages in Badhaber over non-payment of millions of rupees was the first of its kind.



“Even though what we do—disconnecting power supply—is legal and based on directives of Pesco high-ups, it has to be done so in the dark of the night to escape likely law and order problems”.

Badhaber sub-division officer Waqar Mufti confirmed disconnecting power supply to several villages, including Shinrang, Tor Kanrhay, Maira Masjid and Garhi Tarkanan from the high tension jumpers of the 11KV feeders of Badhaber.

Mufti said arrears against power consumers of the 11KV feeders amounted to Rs27.93 million with losses up to 90%.

Another Pesco official said “We have disconnected the villages’ electricity at our own risk and that too very stealthily.”

When asked why power supply had been cut off from the main transmission line to the villages instead of cutting it from transformers in the villages so as to limit those who would be suffering without electricity, the official said “To be frank, even the police cannot go into these areas so we have no other option.”

Pesco spokesperson Shaukat Afzal also said that employees cannot visit some localities due to poor law and order and this was causing losses worth millions to the power company.

The Express Tribune has learnt the areas disconnected on Friday include areas falling under the constituency of Information Minister Shah Farman.



Recently, Farman accused Pesco officials, including its chief Tariq Sadozai, of using illegal electricity connections at their residences. The company replied by announcing it will take the minister to court.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2014.