Prolonged power outages play on nerves of Pindiites

Rawalpindi: The performance of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) stands exposed as the electricity system of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad is playing on the nerves of the consumers who have to brave prolonged power outages fluctuations, tripping, and low voltage for the past many days.

The residents of areas near 502 Workshop and Adiala feeders falling under Adiala Grid Station are facing 12 to 16 hours of power outages for the past three days. The heat-stricken consumers have strongly protested against Iesco but in vain. The protesters also blocked the main Adiala Road, burnt tyres, and raised slogans against Iesco here on Tuesday.

Interestingly, all officers of Iesco claim they were unaware of prolonged power outages in Adiala and Tariqabad sub-divisions. The concerned officers either ran away from their offices or set their telephone sets aside to avoid public complaints. Some of them while talking to ‘The News’ claimed that 11-KV pylon had fallen down besides 502 Workshop and Adiala feeder has developed a major fault. Some officials claimed that it was a prolonged shutdown while some termed it unannounced loadshedding.

Iesco spokesman Raja Asim Nazir told ‘The News’ that all feeders connected with Adiala Grid Station particularly 502 Workshop and Adiala feeders were already overloaded therefore consumers were facing prolonged power outages, tripping, and low voltages. “We have observed power shutdowns due to system overloaded for some days,” he claimed.

The government has claimed to end unscheduled loadshedding in most parts of the country but consumers falling in Iesco jurisdiction are facing 10 to 16 hours of power outages in the name of loadshedding, load management, or power shutdowns. The IESCO has taken advantage of the present political system where nobody was paying heed to address public grievances. “There was no difference between K-Electric and IESCO,” consumers strongly denounced.

Localities falling in Tariqabad, Adiala, Jhanda Chichi, Garibabad, Gulistan Colony, Lalkurti, Girja, Chakra, Soan, Naik Alam, Chah Sultan, Tehmasabad, Committee Chowk, Dhamyal, Bakramandi, Shakriyal, Kurri, Tulsa, New Lalazar, Asghar Mall, Bagh Sardaran, Raja Bazaar, Mohanpura, Bhabra Bazaar, Tipu Road, Javed Colony, Tench, Afshan Colony, People’s Colony, Jan Colony and several other localities are the most affected areas where consumers are continuously facing prolonged power outages.

But, the power regulator National Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has adopted a complete silence and not taking any action on the bad performance of Iesco.

On Sunday night, the residents of Adiala Sub Division faced a complete power blackout from 11:00 pm till 7:30 am Monday and again light disappeared from 11:30 am to 5:25 pm. Similarly, the consumers of 502 Workshop Feeder remained without electricity from Tuesday morning till 2:30 pm.

Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) Adiala Sub Division Muhammad Shahid said that there was a major fault at Adiala feeder which will be rectified till 12:30 pm.

However, Executive Engineer (XEN) Tariqabad Muhammad Anwar Bhatti said that he was totally unaware of this situation.