KARACHI, April 4: Two power generating units of the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation ceased to work on Tuesday creating 225MW power shortage and forcing the power utility to carry out loadshedding in various localities on rotation. The Bin Qasim Unit No 6 tripped for the third time during the last fortnight after its boiler leaked and the oil spilled over. The generating unit was shut down for repair work creating a shortage of 200MW.
Besides, a technical fault developed in the Korangi Thermal Unit that further added 25MW to the overall power shortage, according to KESC spokesman.
He said that due to the shortage in power generation, the KESC had to carry out hours-long loadshedding in 54 grid stations across the city on rotation basis.
He said that the repair work had been started and it would hopefully be completed by Friday.
However, the people disputed the KESC’s claim saying that the power loadshedding continued unabated at various localities for at least two hours. They said that the power utility complaint numbers did not respond or the numbers remained busy. They said that weak distribution and transmission system of the KESC had to be improved but the new management, which claimed to be bringing about change, had not announced its future plan as yet.
A resident from Block-4/A in Gulshan-i-Iqbal said that interruptions in power supply had become a routine in his locality. He said that the whole area plunged into darkness on Tuesday at around 7pm for at least two hours. He said that officials in the power utility appeared to be least concerned to look after the interest of their consumers.
An infuriated consumer in Gulshan-i-Iqbal Block-14 on the main University Road said that the power supply was discontinued in his area at around 11am for at least four hours. He said that the power utility must inform people prior to carrying out loadshedding so that the consumers should be prepared for that.
The unannounced loadshedding always perturbed consumers, as many of the tasks could not be done due to power failures. Besides, frequent power fluctuations were not overcome by the power utility and the consumers had to bear the losses as their electrical appliances were damaged owing to power fluctuations.
Referring to the statement of the new CEO of the KESC, which appeared in a section of press, he said that the CEO had claimed that the efforts would be made to overcome the power loadshedding in summer but the power loadshedding had been initiated much before the summer season, which exposed the tall claims of the new CEO.
He said that the new CEO belonged to a foreign country and was supposed to be an expert. He asked if he would apply his experience to improve the feeble transmission and distribution system of the KESC and when.
A resident of Defence Phase-V Extension said that his locality remained without electricity for an hour. After an interval of a few hours, he said, power supply to the area was again discontinued from 9pm onwards.
According to a resident of Defence Phase IV, the supply of electricity is suspended at 7pm almost daily. He said that school and college exam was ahead and pupils had to prepare for it. Their studies suffered during prolonged power failures, he said, adding that KESC officials do not even care of elderly and sick persons.
A consumer from Metroville III, Gulshan-i-Iqbal said that power failures spanning from two to four hours had become order of the day. He said that on Tuesday hundreds of houses were without electricity from 7pm to 9.30pm. Many complaints were lodged in writing with the KESC local office by the residents but the situation was not improved.
In North Nazimabad Block-L, people experienced power breakdown from 3pm to 4pm, said a consumer adding that the KESC has been carrying out loadshedding on daily basis but it is unwilling to admit it. He said that KESC’s system had gone outdated and the present management did not want to improve it.
In Gulistan-i-Jauhar’s Block 18 and 20, power supply was discontinued at around 4.30pm for one hour.
Another consumer from Buffer Zone 15-B told Dawn that power went off at around 10am for two hours. This practice has been continued for the past couple of weeks, he said. Power supply usually remained suspended in the morning from 10am to noon or from noon to 2pm, he added.
A furious consumer from Block-13/D/III in Gulshan-i-Iqbal said that the power went away at 4.30pm and remained suspended for at least three hours. He said that the KESC had claimed about the shortage of power but the city had been decorated with lights in connection with Eid Miladun Nabi. Kunda system is being used for decorating apartments, buildings, streets and roads with lights. Neither the government nor the power utility had taken any notice of it, he remarked.
When asked, KESC spokesman claimed that the power utility had been giving temporary connections for lighting arrangements and road decorations.
