CHITRAL, Jan 5: The Chitral city is doing without power even though about 2.8MW produced by the Reshun Hydel Power Station in the northern parts of the district remains unutilised, causing seemingly avoidable problems to the people during the winter season.

The city and its adjacent villages get power from the national grid. In the winter, snowfall on the Lowari Pass causes a discontinuation in power supply. In such a situation power could be supplied from the Reshun Power Plant, the citizens suggest.

They say that it takes more than two weeks for the power to be restored to the city as the pass remains covered with snow, making access to the area really difficult. During the four winter months, the city mostly remains cut off from the rest of the country.

Although poles were installed over the pass last year, but these failed to withstand the snowfall. The said plant produces 4.5MW of electricity, of which only 1.7MW is consumed and the rest remains unutilised.

The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) is responsible for supplying power to Chitral city while the power station belongs to the Small Hydel Development Organisation (Shydo).

However, some four years back all necessary gadgets were installed in the Wapda’s grid station for onward supply but in the absence of official directives, the situation lingers on.

On inquiry, District Nazim, Haji Maghfirat Shah told Dawn that the matter would soon be taken up with the federal government for permanent resolution of the problem.