KARACHI, Aug 6: Due to apparent insensitivity on the part of Wapda to the KESC’s urgent need for shifting its connectivity from the national grid, the Karachiites are suffering because of unannounced loadshedding almost every day, which is also affecting industrial production.

A KESC clarification issued on Tuesday to explain why loadshedding is being resorted to said that it was due to decline of support from Wapda, because of some technical fault in Wapda’s circuit 1.

The KESC’s grievance is that unless Wapda gives permission to switch over from one bay to another, it would be forced to continue loadshedding, which will affect not only domestic consumers but also business and industrial activity in the city.

A KESC spokesman said that the utility got its required supply from Wapda through the 220KV Jamshoro-KDA Scheme 33 circuits-1 and 2. Out of these two, the circuit 1 is closed “due to some technical fault.” Hence Wapda’s support had been restricted to 280MW, so the KESC had resorted to loadshedding to the tune of 40-50MW during evening peak hours, which usually started at 8:30pm.

To cater for the load requirement the KESC, according to the spokesman, has planned to shift the Jamshoro Circuit No-1 to another bay, that is, the bay of Pipri West Circuit-1, which has been vacated for this purpose.

This arrangement can only be made by connecting/jumpering the Jamshoro Circuit No 1 to the Pipri West Circuit No-1 at the KDA grid station, only if and when Wapda’s permission is available.

Until then the Karachiites will have to endure one-hour loadshedding in four groups.

Trading allegations between the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation and the Water and Power Development Authority has become a regular feature as neither of the two utilities wants to take responsibility for loadshedding that the Karachiites have been facing of late.

Earlier this month when the KESC had put the onus on Wapda for loadshedding a press release issued by Wapda said: “The KESC always blames Wapda in this regard to hide its inefficiency.”

The KESC had issued the following press release on Friday: “The KESC is facing a shortfall of 200 megawatts due to a technical fault that has developed at Wapda’s end on the 220KV KDA/Jamshoro circuit on July 23, thus forcing the KESC to resort to loadshedding in all the four groups during evening peak hours.”

People calling from different localities said loadshedding did not follow a one-hour schedule announced by the KESC.

A knowledgeable KESC consumer complained that the KESC was not justified in putting the whole blame on Wapda. “It (the KESC) too is responsible for not undertaking proper maintenance and upgrading of its 11-KV system and plugging leakages and line losses.”

KESC consumers from Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Federal B-Area, Buffer Zone, etc, complained of frequent and prolonged loadshedding.