SWABI, June 27: The prolonged power outages and low voltage have forced the people of the district to take initiative for generation of electricity instead of waiting for the government to address their woes.

During a visit to Salim Khan Baja, Salim Khan, Palodand and Gohati areas on Wednesday, it was witnessed that many people were generating electricity for their domestic use with the help of their personal turbines.

Mohammad Farooq, a resident of Palodand, has made his own turbine and installed it on the nearby canal.

“The water falls from height and runs the turbine that generates electricity. The dynamo is connected with the turbine. It produces electricity and we are no longer at the mercy of government,” he said. It cost Rs150,000, he added.

However, the plan is feasible only for those people, who live near canals and streams. People living away from watercourses might find it difficult to generate their ‘own’ electricity.

Mr Farooq said that many people picked the idea. Even the assistance coordination officer, who was passing through the area the other day, stopped and asked many questions about the mechanism, he said.

He said that they learnt about generation of electricity by using such a system from internet. “We might stop using the electricity provided by Peshawar Electric Supply Company (for good),” he said.

Qasim Khan, a resident of Salim Khan village, said that he would start work on his power generation project within the next two or three days. He said that he had talked to an engineer in that regard and it would cost him Rs200,000.

“We can no longer wait for the government because the rulers made pledges many times to end power crisis but they failed to honour their promises and resultantly loadshedding increased manifold,” he said.

Kackul Khan, a resident of Bakar in Gohati, also enjoys uninterrupted power supply to his home as he has installed his own turbine on Palodand canal. It has cost him about Rs250,000.

The Tablighee Markaz in Baja area has also been provided electricity by using the same method. The project has already worked and other people are copying it. “We need electricity only for our fans and bulbs. We face no problem in getting electricity after the installation of our own system,” said a teacher.

The residents of these areas said that in the past people were using UPS but now it could not be charged as power supply remained disconnected for 22 hours.

“Another alternative is buying a generator. However, it also no longer works. The generator is meant only for emergency use. It is not possible to use a generator for 20 to 22 hours,” they said.

Shaukat Ali, a resident of Maneri Bala, said that using a generator was very difficult as even a small one could cost Rs500 per day.

The residents of the areas said that rulers would be in the dock during the upcoming general elections owing to prolonged loadshedding.