THATTA, Jan 5: Some 0.3 million population belonging to coastal villages and towns, including Keti Bunder, Gharo, Kharochhan, Baghan, Johoo, Udasi, Jaloo and others, is facing crises due to closure and shifting of Gharo grid station.

A delegation from the coastal area, including Haji Muhammad Siddique Memon, President, Traders Association, Muhammad Saleh Memon, Nazim, Union Council, Gharo, Ahmed Memon, a social worker, Dr Siddique Akbar, Abdullah Rano and others, told the newsmen that some six months back a pole line had partially been grounded due to the bad material used in its erection.

The Wapda construction wing, instead of reaffixing, dragged away the installation, resulting in the suspension of power supply to the Gharo grid station for about a month, causing a severe financial blow to dozens of rice and ice factories, husking units, and other small business.

After one month, in response to the growing protest by locals, the Hesco managed a stop gap arrangement through Mirpur Sakro grid station, but it did not work due to the heavy power load of the entire sub-division on one grid station.

Instead of streamlining the system, the construction wing detached away the entire Gharo grid station installations.

The step, in violation of the government policy for electrifying more and more interior sites to provide and encourage job and business opportunities, has resulted in closure of the dozens of rice husking mills, saw mills, oil exploring units, besides hampering a number of small business.

The temporary supply arrangement could not work more than two hours per day.

The inhabitants of coastal belt have demanded the restoration of power in the area.

SALARY: Thousands of employees of various departments in Thatta have not received their salaries for Dec 2001.