Power crises : Discriminatory load-shedding irks residents

Over the pretext of power theft, eight to 10 hours load-shedding is being done.

SUKKUR: On failing to curb power theft, the Sukkur Electric Power Company (Sepco) has started discriminative load-shedding at different feeders in the city. The condition has become so irksome that some residents get power for merely two hours at night.

Water and Power minister Abid Sher Ali, during his visits, has always expressed elaborate plans to end power theft, yet the authorities have not taken any practical measures to curb the menace. Reports suggest that power utility has instead increased load-shedding on the feeders that, as per authorities, are more prone to power theft.

Over the pretext of power theft, eight to ten hours load-shedding is being done on certain feeders, which also includes the Jeay Shah feeder in Old Sukkur sub-division. Residents of the area not able to sleep at night, as they are getting electricity for two hours only, from 2am to 4am. On other feeders, which are notorious for power theft, the residents are getting electricity for six hours during the night, from 12am to 6am.

The Jeay Shah feeder is famous as it was declared as a VIP feeder for a day on August 9, due to the wedding ceremony of an influential politician's niece in the area. Interestingly, during those 24 hours, neither the feeder tripped, nor any fault occurred. However, the end of the day again initiated the merciless load-shedding depriving the residents of their sleep.

Power Dispatch Centre officials told The Express Tribune that the load-shedding schedule is prepared by operation officials and directed the query to Sepco superintendent engineer, Akhtar Nabi Dogar. On contact, Dogar expressed lack of knowledge regarding the schedule and advised to contact the relevant executive engineer, Aijaz Channa. When contacted, Channa promised to reschedule the load-shedding hours. Sepco public relations officer said he will talk to relevant officers and discuss the rescheduling of load-shedding hours.

A Sepco officer, requesting anonymity, remarked that everything is possible in Pakistan. When Jeay Shah was declared VIP, we had to oblige otherwise it would not possible for us to retain our jobs, he added.

On the other hand, the traders in the city, irked by the excessive and detection bills generated by Sepco, carved a strategy for protesting against the company's atrocities. Sukkur Small Traders president said that despite repeated promises by Sepco, people are still getting electricity bills with excessive units and detection bills.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12^th, 2015.