HYDERABAD: Resid­ents of various localities held demonstrations in protest against massive power load-shedding, frequent shutdowns for maintenance, forc­ed outages and frequent low voltage for around 13 hours in sweltering heat on Tuesday night and Wednes­day morning.

Shouting slogans against the Hyderabad Electric Sup­ply Company (Hesco), a number of people came out of their houses and protested against the prolonged power load-shedding and outages for many hours in various localities of Hyderabad.

Residents of Wahdat Colony and its adjoining katchi abadi areas, Phuleli, Paretabad, Fakir Ka Pir, Latifabad No. 5, 10, 11, 12 and Hussainabad protested at the main spots of their areas by burning old tyres and garbage, blocking main roads and stopping vehicular traffic.

Many people complained against shutdowns for six hours, load-shedding for four hours and forced shutdown for three hours.

Some others also clamoured against seven hours’ load-shedding and four-to-five hours’ unannounced outages. Many said there was no electricity for 14 hours a day.

They said due to hot weather, which created demand for more water, if there was no power, there would be no water in houses.

They slammed Hesco and the federal government as they made tall claims to eliminate power load-shedding. They said Hesco shut down power for six to eight hours in winter and summer for maintenance, but no maintenance was witnessed because there was frequent low voltage and power breakdowns throughout the year.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2017