26 October 2004	Tuesday	11 Ramazan 1425

KARACHI, Oct 25: A major power breakdown plunged most parts of the city into darkness in early hours on Monday. The localities that suffered power failure included Defence, Clifton, North Nazimabad , Shah Faisal Colony, Malir, Model Colony, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Federal B Area, Korangi, Landhi, Orangi Town, North Karachi, Old City area, Saddar, Liaquatabad, and Gulshan-i-Iqbal.

A spokesman for the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation attributed the disruption in distribution system to "heavy fog" and claimed that the KESC engineers had restored the supply in an hour.

Contrary to the claims of KESC official, people from various parts of the city contended that the power supply was interrupted 15 minutes before the end of Sehri timing. They maintained that the power supply remained suspended for two to seven hours in different areas.

The consumers were of the view that KESC distribution system always tripped or went out of order even with a slight change in weather. KESC management always did a lip-service, got money by issuing exorbitant bills, but did nothing to facilitate its consumers, they added.

Blaming KESC officials' inefficiency for regular power breakdowns in the city, people demanded that federal government should remove its corrupt management and appoint technical experts who could improve the distribution and transmission system of the KESC.

KESC spokesman said that the supply was partially interrupted as the 220KV circuits between KDA Grid Station (Super Highway) and Pipri West Grid Station tripped in the early morning hours. The sudden tripping occurred at 5:30am on the high-tension lines. At that time, he added, the city was being supplied 1,600MW electricity.

He said that due to the interruption, the supply of 800MW power stopped. He claimed that the extra high-tension line fault was rectified within an hour, however, the user-end took some time and the supply was fully restored by 9:30am.

People were perturbed owing to sudden power breakdown at Sehri and got disturbed in performing their religious obligations.

Calling from Gulistan-i-Jauhar Block-16A, the KDA Oversees Bungalows, Ms Masooma said that she could not prepare food due to power failure and all her family members had to fast without having Sehri.

An irate consumer from Korangi told Dawn that power went off in their area and adjacent Altaf Nagar just before Sehri. He said that the entire area was plunged into darkness and people felt it difficult to reach mosques to offer their prayers.

"My children were awake just after the power failure. They could not sleep, as the power supply was restored after 10am", a woman calling from Sharea Faisal said and added that even after restoration, the fluctuation in power supply remained throughout the day.

A resident of North Nazimabad said that the power supply was switched off by the KESC early morning and it was restored around 10am. However, the power fluctuated throughout the day due to which the power cable of television set was burnt.

The consumers complained that the KESC had been carrying out loadshedding unofficially in many areas for a couple of hours twice a day in their localities. Since the beginning of Ramazan, the KESC have not been able to provide continuous power supply to its consumers.

PROTEST DEMO: Residents of Machhar Colony, Agra Taj Colony and Niazi Colony staged a protest demonstration against perpetual power failures in their localities.

They took to Mauripur Road on Sunday night, lit bonfire and blocked the vehicular movement.

The protesters claimed that the power supply was restored only for two hours a day since the holy month began.

They dispersed when the city government and police officials assured them that they would influence KESC officials to restore power supply in those localities.