May 23, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 17, 1429

HYDERABAD, May 22: The Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) and Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) have been directed to evolve a joint strategy for reducing loadshedding duration to ensure supply of drinking water.

District Naib Nazim Zafar Rajput taking notice of unscheduled and prolonged power failures called a meeting of Hesco and Wasa officials and asked the former to give notice of power shutdowns and also constrict its duration. He reminded the officers that this was in connection to an earlier meeting chaired by the District Nazim Knawar Naveed Jamil because water supply was a sensitive issue hitting all and sundry.

He told the participants that complaints from all three talukas had been trickling down about people taking to roads in protest against chronic power breakdowns and drinking water shortage. Instructing the two civic bodies, he said, both need to ensure water supply to the people of all localities by working out a joint strategy.

The MQM chief taking notice of water problem directed its supply to all without discreet or discrimination he said adding Wasa officials deserve punishment because of their lethargic attitude while action against Hesco will be justified for violating official schedule.

He cautioned Wasa and Hesco officials over mounting rage among consumers who cannot be pacified further. Naib Nazim directed them to publicize the schedule of power cuts in print and electric media, while ensuring supply to water pumping stations.

Though the entire country was in the grip of power outages but it was elected representatives’ responsibility to minimize people’s miseries, he concluded.

The meeting was attended by City Taluka Nazim Shabbar Chishti, Latifabad Taluka Nazim Sabir Hussain Kaimkhani, HAD director general Altaf Memon, Managing Director Wasa Basheer Awan and senior officers of Hesco

WASA: About six to eight hours of daily loadshedding was disrupting water supply to all three talukas, said Managing Director Wasa Mohammad Basheer Awan. He requested Hesco to reduce the duration for smooth running of pumping stations.

He said though Wasa had installed diesel generators at pumping station which were incapable of continuously supplying water to consumers, he said.

DISCONNECTION: Hesco disconnected power supply to more than 20 villages of Bulri Shah Karim taluka, district Tando Mohammad Khan on Thursday.

According to villagers, power supply was disconnected without any reason and demanded its immediate restoration.