HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Chambers of Small Traders and Small Industry (HCSTSA) and Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) issued conflicting statements on Thursday regarding unannounced loadshedding in the city after the meeting of a small chamber delegation with Hesco chief executive officer Abdul Haq Memon.

A power utility spokesman in his statement did not say that the Hesco chief had committed to uninterrupted power supply while the small chamber in its statement thanked him for his commitment to regular supply.

A chamber press release issued on Thursday said that a delegation led by Doulat Ram Lohana met the Hesco chief and thanked him for the CEO’s pledge to not resort to unannounced loadshedding on chamber’s request, extension of date for bills’ payment and suspending loadshedding during the lockdown. The team expressed the hope that the coordination between chamber and the Hesco authorities would continue to boost the national economy.

The chamber delegation also expressed concern over prolonged unannounced loadshedding and demanded its duration be reduced. It termed daily shutdown for one or other reason detrimental to the economy and wanted an end to it.

It said the Hesco policies were leading to anger among people and traders and any conflict would be uncalled for in the present conditions. The delegation hoped that the Hesco head would find a solution for providing relief to consumers.

But the Hesco spokesman in his statement nowhere stated that the CEO had promised an end to unannounced loadshedding. He said the chamber delegation thanked the Hesco chief for continuous supply of electricity during the lockdown and Ramazan. The team appreciated the steps of Hesco, like meter securing and surveillance, he said.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2020