KARACHI, March 5: Shopping centres and various localities in the metropolis suffered prolonged power cuts on Monday. A resident of Chishti Nagar complained that his area suffered power breakdown for seven hours. He said the power supply to his locality was suspended at 8am and restored at 3pm. He also criticised the officials of Karachi Electric Supply Corporation for using delaying tactics to remove the power poles from the middle of Shahrah-i-Orangi, saying that the poles are creating hurdles in traffic flow in the area.

A consumer from MPR Colony, Qasba, said besides the frequent power failures the area had been facing low voltage problems since long. He said the residents had time and again requested the officials concerned for rectification, but to no avail.

Complaints of recurring disruption in power supply were received from different localities of Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Landhi, I.I. Chundrigar Road and Korangi Industrial Area. The consumers said they also faced voltage problems in Orangi and Baloch Colony.

Meanwhile, MNA Syed Akhlaq Hussain Abidi inaugurated a new feeder at Defence Grid Station to strengthen the power supply network of Defence and adjoining areas.

The feeder has been laid at the cost of Rs16 million for providing relief to the consumers of DHA phase 5, 6 and 7. Besides, the new feeder will also provide back feeding to other consumers of these areas in case of fault in existing feeders.

The MNA said the power supply feeder would help ensure uninterrupted and stable power supply to the area. He expressed hope that the KESC would make all possible efforts to meet the increasing power demand.

The KESC officials said RS162 million had been allocated for laying five feeders for Defence and Clifton areas. It was informed that laying work of rest of the four feeders for the consumers of Clifton Block 1, 4, DHA phase 5 extensions, phase 5, 6, Gizri Village, Darakhshan and Sea View area was in process and these feeders would be energised before the next summer.

It was also informed that after installation of 400 knife switches, fault rectification time had reduce drastically while 18 feeders were rehabilitated. Besides, eight new PMTs were installed at different location in Defence.

KESC Region III General Manager Rafiq Khanzada, Deputy General Manager Development Arshad Iftikhar, Deputy General Manager Performance Anwer Shiekh, Manger Operation Talat Qureshi and Manager Network Hasan Raza were also present at the inauguration ceremony.

Meanwhile, the KESC has announced a shutdown schedule for the next four days stating that due to installation of new 132 KV transmissions conductor power supply may be interrupted till March 9 from 9am to 6pm in North Nazimabad’s block B and F, Ziauddin Hospital, Cancer Hospital and Khandu Goth.