LARKANA: Normality returned to Naudero after two days of shutter-down strike on Thursday when the Sepco administration agreed to curtail the load shedding from 18 to 8 hours in Naudero town.

Ratodero SDM M.B.Dharejo and DSP Yasin Tagar played a key role in convincing the protestors, SEPCO mangers and the administration about severity of the situation.

The announcement of reducing load shedding hours from 18 to 8 came when the protestors threatened to enter the gird station, sources privy to the situation said.

After taking on board all stakeholders, the Citizens Action Committee (CAC) Naudero had opted for the shutter-down strike and sit-in outside the gird station from Tuesday.

The two days closure of the town and sit-in brought routine activities to a standstill. In the situation, the CAC leaders severely criticised the role of elected representatives who, according to them, kept themselves at a distance from the voice of protest.

Heavy police contingent was deployed inside and outside the grid station when the SDM and DSP Ratodero informed the divisional and district administration about the charged people.

People danced in jubilation when the SDM flanked by the DSP announced that load shedding time had been curtailed from 18 to 8 hours for the town while 10 hours load shedding would be carried out on village feeders.

Addressing the gathered people, Ghulam Haidar Narejo said they had been calling for load shedding according to Prime Minister’s commitment for six hours. But the Sepco managers have initially agreed for eight hours and asked for time to curtail two hours more, bringing it to six hours.

He said new schedule for eight hours load shedding had been issued. He thanked people who participated in the protest.

The impression in the town was that the local PPP leadership kept itself away from the protest.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2015

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