03 May 2004	Monday	12 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

HYDERABAD, May 2: Students taking intermediate examinations suffered due to prolonged power suspensions on Saturday. Different sub-divisions of the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company remained without electricity on Saturday.

When contacted, a Hesco official said that replacement of conductors in the city was the reason for suspension of supplies to different areas. He said that complaints of power suspension had been received from Hirabad and Paretabad sub-divisions.

Residents of the two sub-divisions said that power went off on Saturday at 5am and it was restored at 11.30am. Again power supply was disconnected in the evening and was not restored till 9pm when this report was filed.

A land owner of Hirabad criticized Hesco authorities for resorting to power suspension which he said was creating difficulties for students appearing in the HSC examinations. Another Hirabad resident, Amjad Hussain, said that Hesco continued to issue detection bills despite it had failed to ensure uninterrupted power supply.

He said that consumers had not been able to contact Hesco's Hirabad office as its telephone remains busy. The Market Tower area witnesses daily electricity disruptions after Maghrib prayers.

A tailor, Javed, complained that his business had been badly affected due to suspension of electricity. The suspension of power supply has also resulted in water shortage in the area.