LAHORE: Unscheduled loadshedding continued to torment people in the country on Wednesday making it difficult for them to brave the current heatwave amidst reports by official sources that the situation could improve only if three hydel plants start receiving snow or glacier melt for proper electricity production.

Many cities in Punjab reported 10 to 12 hours of loadshedding. The situation was worse in small towns and rural areas. Officials in the power sector said the low recovery (less bill paying) areas which existed all over the country were the worst affected as they were facing major chunk of (forced) loadshedding (as a punishment).

“At the moment the country is daily producing around 12,900MW of electricity against a demand of 19,750MW which has enhanced due to sudden rise in the temperatures. Bhikki power plant immediately added just 300MW and the shortfall is still around 7,000MW,” an official source told Dawn.

Insiders said that the country was facing shortfall because of inadequate power production by Mangla, Warsak and Ghazi Barotha dams due to short supplies of snow and glacier melt. This was causing a shortfall of 2,000MW of hydel power which if covered could reduce loadshedding to its routine and generally accepted duration.

Low temperatures and recent snowfall over the hills delayed the snow and glacier melt which is the main supply line of water to these three major dams for hydel power generation. “The heatwave pestering people is required to stay to melt snow over the hills,” he remarked.

The officials said two 620MW each IPPs were closed for routine maintenance and they would resume production in the first week of next month.

Meanwhile, heatwave and loadshedding continued to disrupt life in Lahore and elsewhere in the plains of the country. Sleeping indoors last night was tormenting in the absence of a regular power supply.

Shopkeeper selling sherbet or other cold drinks complained of buying ice in black market which they said was in short supply because of loadshedding induced low production.

The situation was especially tasking for schoolchildren who had to silently suffer in countless public and private schools, forcing many parents to demand closure of the institutions till the situation is improved.

Business at shopping centres and in markets and work in offices was also affected.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2017