HYDERABAD, May 29 Power distribution system run by the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) continues to test patience of consumers and create water shortage in the power-affected areas.

Hesco's failure to maintain its system forces consumers to take to streets due to electricity shutdowns in the summer.

Five feeders emanating from Latifabad grid station remained affected on Saturday after the current transformer (CT) got damaged due to load problem in its incoming channel, according to a Hesco spokesman.

The Fazal-i-Gulzar, Sabzi Mandi, Shah Bhitai, HDA, L-8 and L-10 feeders are source of power supply to Effendi Town, Sabzi Mandi, Hali Road, Sharif Square, Hussainabad, Defence Plaza, Agriculture Complex and Latifabad unit-8 and 10.

The spokesman said that the fault was rectified in the transformer at 2.45 pm and now the system was smoothly working with no major complaint.

Residents of Hali Road, Sabzi Mandi and Gharib Nawaz colony took to the streets and blocked the Hali Road and burned tyres, suspending the flow of traffic for quite some time. After the protest, they dispersed peacefully and traffic's flow was restored.

Power breakdowns repeatedly expose the outdated electricity system of the power utility, pointing to the need of upgradation. Power riots in Pucca Qilla area due to a fault in Phulelli grid station's old power house feeder on Thursday badly affected water supply in the areas of Effendi Town, Shahi Bazaar, American Quarters, Talab number-3 and Seroghat. Water supply has not been fully restored to date.

A water reservoir of the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) is established in Pucca Qilla area which supplies water to the above-mentioned areas.

Wasa's managing director Shafiq Arain said that some of the areas were getting normal water supply but some were still affected due to Thursday's power breakdown in the grid station.

The power supply was affected in Fatima Jinnah (Thandi Sarak), depriving the residents also of water.

The city's water consumption needs stand at around 70 to 75 million gallons of water daily. People of Hyderabad, Qasimabad and Latifabad talukas get water through Wasa's waterworks established on the Jamshoro road — old and new filter plants of 10MGD and 30MGD respectively, Latifabad-4 (5MGD), Hala Naka (8mGD) and Paretabad (10 MGD).

Jamshoro power house has to undergo a rehabilitation programme under USAID's grant. The work has not been started there as it requires purchase of equipment and other preparations, although consultants have visited the power house.