Residents get caught between KESC, KWSB

Protesters block Sharae Faisal, demand water board pay KESC Rs10 billion so they get power back.

KARACHI: The residential colony of water board employees has been without electricity for the past week.

Employees of the Karachi Water and Sewage Board (KWSB) managing director’s secretariat blocked Sharae Faisal on Monday as they staged a sit-in. Dozens of workers and their families protested in front of the office of KWSB’s chief electrical and mechanical engineer, Zaheer Abbas.

Electricity supply to Karsaz Colony, comprising nearly 350 houses, was suspended by the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) as the water board failed to pay its bill worth Rs10 billion. During the protest, the workers shouted slogans against both companies for making their lives miserable.

The workers claimed that they appealed to their officials several times to pay the bill but to no avail. Enraged protesters also attacked the engineer’s office and damaged property.

They forced Abbas to take refuge inside his room, from where he negotiated with the workers’ representatives. Abbas explained that paying bills is the administration’s responsibility and he does not have any say in this matter.

A few workers pointed out that, while they have been forced to live in the dark for the past eight days, the electricity supply to their officers’ homes has not been suspended. “It is only the workers who are being made to suffer,” said a disgruntled worker.

The commotion caused by the protesters slowed down traffic on Sharae Faisal. The protesters would block the road completely by lying down and would then get up to dance. When enough cars had gathered, they would let them pass only to block it once again.

Sindh Minister for Information Technology Raza Haroon and a member of Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Rabita Committee, Wasay Jalil, reached the site. They talked to water board officials and assured the protesters that the problem will be resolved soon.

The protesters dispersed after some time. The supply was restored in the neighbourhood at 8 pm.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2010.