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HYDERABAD The 72-hour-long power outage in sweltering heat forced the residents of Miani Road, Nawabad Gali, Memon Para, Latif Gali, Seroghat and other areas to come out on roads.
Angry protesters forced the shopkeepers to shut down their businesses which led to scuffles. However, the situation was controlled from blowing into a big melee.
The agitating residents wailed over the non-responsive attitude of Hesco's Memon sub-division despite being informed that their areas were without the power supply for the last three days.
Some 500 to 600 houses and a large number of shops were without power for last 72 hours, they said. Protesters claimed that the transformer of their area was removed to facilitate an ice factory owner.
The power shutdown disrupts water supply and the sizzling weather conditions make living a hell, especially for children, women and the sick, they said.
Protesters marched to the concerned sub-division where no official was present while the telephone too, was found off-the-hook. Consumers warned Hesco against testing their patience.
The residents condemned the UC Nazim Nasir Baloch for remaining aloof of the whole situation despite being told of their power woes. Instead, the UC Nazim rejected the transformer removal allegations and claimed that on Tuesday only, he got the transformer replaced after meeting the Hesoc's Chief Executive Officer Habibullah Khilji, protesters said. Many women and children had shifted to their relatives houses.
Nasir Baloch, clarifying the situation said that the transformer was replaced as it could not bear the load and gave in while another was installed after getting from the Hesco workshop.
He claimed of making a request to Hesco officials to exempt the area people from loadshedding as the residents were without power for the last three days. It may be mentioned here that loadshedding began soon after the transformer was replaced.
Our Mirpurkhas correspondent adds Hundreds of residents of Pak, Rajar, Nawab and Ghosia colony and others areas held a demonstration and blocked the Sir Syed road on Tuesday in protest against the loadshedding and drinking water shortage.
They burnt tyres and raised slogans against Hesco and Taluka municipal administration Mirpurkhas.
They told reporters that frequent power failures had disrupted their everyday life along with depriving them of drinking water, also. They said that the rotation programme had caused acute water shortage city hence creating hardships for people.
They alleged the landlords of stealing water from the distributaries meant for city population while frequent power outages were making things worse for the residents. The residents were not being supplied water for the last one week and forced to fetch it from the far-flung areas.
Meanwhile, the DCO Mirpurkhas convened a meeting on Tuesday to review the water supply and loadshedding situation in the city.
Taluka Nazim Mirpurkhas Ghulam Dastagir Kamali told the meeting that the TMA was facing water shortage due to loadshedding, rotation programme and theft but efforts were underway to maintain regular supply.
Director Nara Canal Area Water Board assured smooth supply to the reservoirs according to the needs.
