MINGORA: The residents of Amankot and Faizabad have shown concern over use of substandard material in installation of electricity poles by Pesco.

Talking to journalists here on Sunday, they demanded of the government to initiate inquiry into the matter. They said that the electricity poles could fall and create problem for the local people.

They said that the new electricity poles, installed recently along Amankot and Faizabad road, were dangerous for people. “Small pits were dug to insert the electricity poles without putting concrete on it,” said Akbar Ali, a resident of Amankot.

He said that following their complaints, a team came after two months with two bags of cements. “They mixed only one bag in the gravel and took the other bag after the mixed concrete was put on the electricity poles,” he added.

The residents of the area complained about use of substandard material and other irregularities committed in the installation of poles.

“When the construction team came, the pits dug for the poles were full of trash and garbage. To my surprise, they started filling the pits without cleaning them. I interfered and asked them to clean the holes but the workers said that they could not do so and started filling them with the substandard concrete mixed with only one bag cement,” said Abdul Khaliq, another resident of Amankot.

An official, on condition of anonymity, told this scribe said that for installing 58 feet long electricity pole, minimum of eight bags of 50kg cement were required. The local people said that they feared that the poles would fall in storm or rain, therefore, the relevant authorities must take notice of the matter.

Executive Engineer Sultan Rashid, when contacted, said that he would check the installed poles and would take action against the violators.

ADC Fawad Khan also said that the district administration would initiate an inquiry into the matter and action would be taken against the construction team if it was found guilty of any violation.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2019