BEFORE 2018, electricity loadshedding in Hyderabad used to be observed for six to eight hours every day, but the duration has gone up to 10-12 hours, and there is no let up for the last three years. This is despite official claims that electricity-generation has gone up to 35,000MW and the country is producing surplus electricity which makes loadshedding in Hyderabad surprising. The reason given by the department concerned is that there is rampant electricity theft in Hyderabad which, one must concede, is true to a great extent.

In all the suburbs, slums and low-lying areas, there is not a single house which does not have an illegal connection in connivance with the department concerned. Who is responsible for this? Officials, including line superintendents, of the areas where there is recovery-deficit should be arrested and sacked. What is the fault of the 80 per cent of the residents of the city who regularly pay their bills?

Dr Fateh M. Khan

Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2021