KARACHI, July 18: Power theft through ‘kundas’ (hooks) in many areas of the city, especially the outskirts, is rampant with the KESC having no mechanism to check the practice that has been creating many problems not only for the corporation, but also to a large number of consumers.

The menace of kunda system is the main cause of extra load on power lines and transformers ultimately leading to breakdowns. Besides, it causes huge losses to the KESC in revenues. By resorting to draw electricity through kundas, the unscrupulous consumers expose people to electrocution as in many cases, such connections are not installed properly and anyone coming in contact with the hanging wires could suffer an electrical shock.

The attitude of KESC staff in this regard appeared to be quite indifferent. Not only they ignore the visible method of power theft, they would also not bother to attend a complaint in any locality on the outskirts of the city in the event of power breakdown, particularly during night hours. While the breakdowns are caused by power thieves, those regularly paying their bills are made to suffer.

Residents of Nawab Colony, who face such situation every now and then, have complained that KESC staff do not respond positively to their requests for the installation of power meters, thus encouraging power theft through kundas. A perturbed resident, Salimullah, suggested that the KESC authorities should set up camps in all those localities where electricity was drawn through kunda system. At these camps, he said, consumers should be offered installation of power metres for their households or concerns under a simple and swift procedure.

Another resident, Rahim Khan, said that consumers had been left with no choice but to resort to power theft as the KESC did not encourage them to seek electricity through legal procedures. “If a person who has to devote much of his day time to his work for earning two square meals, how could he spare several hours every day to appear before some KESC official to get a meter installed at his home?” he asked.

Yet another consumer, Shakir Rafiq, stressed that strict legal action should be taken against power thieves who were instigating others to do the same.