LIKE the rest of the country, Gilgit-Baltistan is also experiencing acute energy shortages. Loadshedding and power breakdowns are a routine and result in disruption in the smooth functioning of businesses, educational institutions and other government departments.

In addition, students suffer particularly when burning the midnight oil for annual examinations. Some of the major causes of the power crisis in Gilgit-Baltistan are the rapid growth of population and increasing number of consumers.

Misuse and theft of electricity by influential and affluent people is yet another factor.

Also, mismanagement and corruption is reported frequently in the media as millions of rupees have been pumped into this sector on repairing and maintenance of the existing power generators instead of buying new ones.

Hence, most of the existing power plants and their capacity of power generation are on the decline and the shortfall is widening. This has forced the people of the region to take to the streets in protest.

In order to minimise loadshedding temporarily, the government has reduced the voltage in every household of the region by putting fuse system on electric poles that has restricted consumers to use power up to 1,200 Watt.

Now except for illumination purposes, the rest of electric appliances such as ovens, irons, heaters, geysers and freezers are not allowed to be used. Nevertheless, this is not the permanent solution to the energy crisis. Instead, Gilgit-Baltistan has the potential of generating thousands of megawatts by converting the perennial streams and rivers into hydel power plants across the region.

In this connection, the construction of Diamer-Bhasha, Bonji and Dassu dams on the Indus will eventually alleviate the widening shortfall of power in Gilgit- Baltistan as well as in the down-country in future.

Many more small dams and canals can be built upstream in different valleys of the region for power generation and irrigation of barren lands.

To ensure transparency in budget consumption and standardised construction works, tenders should be given only to those contractors whose record is excellent.

Finally, misuse of electricity by influential and affluent consumers should be checked through formulation of strict laws and executing them with the help of the department concerned and law-enforcement agencies.

Karim Mohammad Khan

Ghizar