SWABI: The authorities on Monday stopped consumers from marching to the Tarbela Dam’s powerhouse, confining them to the Hamlat Chowk on Topi-Tarbela Road, where they staged a sit-in to push for ending excessive power outages and over billing. They also demanded subsidised electricity units in return for sacrificing their lands for the dam.

Da Haq Awaz, a local welfare body, gave call for the protest. It also ran a campaign from village-to-village to educate people about their rights.

The protest organisers accused the dam authorities of not implementing an agreement reached with the protesters on March 6 when they held the first march to the dam. They accused the dam authorities and the district administration of adopting delaying tactics.

Protesters block road against power outages, inflated bills

The protesters belonging to different regions reached the thoroughfare while on way to the Tarbela Dam’s powerhouse and staged a sit-in there when they were stopped from moving forward.

Speaking to the protesters, various leaders, including Da Haq Awaz head Ihsanul Haq Bamkhelvi, declared that they would not return home until achieving their objective of subsidised power for consumers. They said their protest would be peaceful.

Mr Bamkhelvi said the people of Swabi had sacrificed their lands for the construction of Tarbela and Ghazi-Barotha dams, which were the country’s electricity lifeline, and they should be rewarded by being provided with subsidised power units.

“People have sacrificed 110,000 kanals of land for Tarbela Dam and 14,000 kanals for Ghazi Barotha,” he said. He regretted that despite this immense contribution the people of Swabi were subjected to the excessive power outages.

The local administration had placed a container at the junction point of Topi-Tarbela and Tarbela-Ghazi roads to block people’s journey to the dam’s powerhouse.

The blockade of the Topi-Tarbela Road troubled the employees of the dam, who either remained stuck on the premises or in residential colonies.

Later, the protesters dispersed peacefully after their leaders held talks with Tarbela Dam authorities and Peshawar Electric Supply Company officials.

General manager, power, Tarbela, Nasruminllah led the dam’s delegation at the talks.

The protesters were promised jobs in the dam, and return of the land, which was acquired from the people but was not utilised, to the owners.

Meanwhile, during a separate meeting with the protesters, Pesco officials promised to curb overbilling and power outages.

Following the talks, Mr Bamkhelvi threatened of ‘dire consequences’ if the latest agreement was not implemented in letter and spirit.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2024