Power woes: Out of order transformers spark protests in Faisalabad

The transformers were damaged in the windstorm three days ago

FAISALABAD:

Scores of residents of Madanpura staged a protest demonstration on Monday at Narwala Road against Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) for failing to fix the transformer in their area. They blocked Narwala Road, suspending traffic for several hours. The protesters chanted slogans against the FESCO and demanded immediate restoration of power supply. Anjum Ali, one of the protesters, told newsmen that the transformer which had supplied electricity to Madanpura had been damaged in the windstorm three days ago.

“We complained about the situation to the FESCO subdivision office because the entire neighbourhood has been without power supply for last three days.”

He said they had lodged dozens of complaints but no one from the FESCO had come to fix the transformer.

“All our activities have come to a halt because there of the power outage,” he said. He said families were facing an especially tough time during sehar, iftar and taraweeh.

“We cannot use water pumps, fans, irons and washing machines,” he said.

“We cannot even go to work because power looms are also closed,” he said.  The protesters threatened to stage a sit-in at the FESCO headquarters if power supply to their locality was not restored within 24 hours.

Later, the Gulberg DSP met the protesters and assured them that the issue would be taken up before senior officials and resolved as soon as possible. They dispersed on his assurance. Separately, dozens of residents of Bakkar Mandi staged a protest demonstration against the FESCO for not replacing a damaged transformer in their neighbourhood. Khairdin, one of the protesters, told newsmen that a transformer installed by the FESCO had stopped working three days ago. “We have moved several complaints at the FESCO office in the area but no one has fixed the transformer,” he said.  Akram Bashir, another protester, said, “When we asked lineman of Bakkar Mandi subdivision to replace the transformer, he asked for a bribe.” “When we refused to pay it, he told me that our transformer would not be changed,” he said. He said people in the area had been without power supply for three days.

The protesters chanted slogans against the FESCO and demanded immediate replacement of the transformer and restoration of electricity to their locality.  Traffic at Jhang-Faisalabad Road was suspended for several hours because the protesters erected blockades.  Later, a police team headed by the Jhang Bazaar SHO met the protesters and assured them that their issue would be resolved as soon as possible.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2015.