SWAT: Swat plunged into darkness after more than 100 power transformers got out of order owing to overloading in the different parts of the scenic valley.

The residents of Rahimabad, Gul Kada, Landeykas, College Colony, Saidu Sharif, Shahdara, Naway Kallay, Matta, Khwazakhela and Kabal protested the excessive power loadshedding in their areas during the holy month of Ramazan.

They complained that electricity remained suspended most of the time as the duration of loadshedding exceeded 18 hours.

“We are experiencing over 18 hours of loadshedding which has affected our daily routine. We have our Iftar and Sehri in the light of candles and lanterns,” said Zahoor Khan, a resident of Kabal.

The local people also questioned the authority of the order of the prime minister about not observing loadshedding during Iftar and Sehri.

“If Wapda does not follow the orders of the prime minister then what else can we expect? Despite the order of prime minister, Wapda observes loadshedding during Iftar and Sehri,” the residents of Khwazakhela said.

Over 100 power transformers go out of order; local people threaten protest

The dwellers of the areas, where power transformers went out of order, said that they repeatedly visited offices of Wapda and the houses of MPAs for repair of the transformers but to no avail.

“The elected representatives have turned a deaf ear to our problems. They deliberately ignore our issues,” said Bahar Ahmad, a resident of Khwazakhela.

Some other people said that they repaired their out of order transformers with their own expenses. “After being disappointed, we collected money from every house and repaired our broken transformer,” said Khalid Iqbal, a resident of Matta.

The members of the civil society and local leaders of political parties also showed anger over the prolonged power outages during the holy month of Ramazan.

Swat Traders Federation president Abdur Rahim Khan, QWP divisional president Fazl Rehman Nono, JI district chief Dr Fazl-i-Subhan, ANP district president Sher Shah Khan and JUI-F district emir Maulana Fathatullah condemned the federal and provincial governments for their failure to end loadshedding.

“If both the federal and provincial governments failed to redress public issues, they don’t have the right to govern,” they said.

They also threatened to take to streets if government failed to resolve the issue of power loadshedding.

Adviser to Chief Minister Dr Amjad Khan said that the issue of low voltage would be solved soon as a 40MV transformer was provided to Chakdara grid station.

“With the provision of the transformer, low voltage problem in Barikot, Shamozai and Kota areas will be hopefully resolved,” he said in a meeting with the residents and elected councillors of Shamozai union council.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play