September 14, 2008	Sunday	Ramazan 13, 1429

PESHAWAR, Sept 13: The Peshawar Electric Supply Company is unable to restore power supply to various parts of violent-stricken areas of the Swat valley because of the ongoing military operation, says its spokesperson.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, the company spokesperson said power distribution system had received numerous damages due to subversive activities and the continued military operation against militants in Swat.

He said a 132KV transmission line and Matta-I and II transmission lines had been badly damaged, causing power disruption in different areas in Swat, including Madin, Khawaza Khela, Matta, Kuza Banda, Bara Banda, Nim Gule etc.

Despite the curfew and military operation, he said, technical teams of the public utility had completed rehabilitation work in some affected areas for restoration of electricity. However, he said: “Further work is not possible in these violent-hit areas due to ongoing military campaign in addition to air strikes.”

According to the spokesperson, technical teams of Pesco had tried to rectify a fault between Tower-20 to Tower-46, but since these were located in Kuza Bana, Bara Banda and Nim Gule, the most violent areas, immediate restoration of power supply was not possible there.

At present, security forces are concentrating on these areas, as apart from ground offensive, heavy artillery shelling and air strikes are a routine that ultimately affect rehabilitation work on faulty power distribution network.

The spokesperson said Pesco had no alternative source to restore power supply to the affected areas, adding that as soon as the situation became stable rehabilitation work would be completed without delay. He asked consumers to extend their support to the public utility in this tough period.