GILGIT: Protest demonstrations were held on Tuesday in various areas of Gilgit city against prolonged power outages.

The protesters criticised the government for its failure to provide electricity to the citizens despite spending billions of rupees on different projects. The protests were held at Khomer, Kashrot, Amphary, Danyor, Kundas and other areas. The protesters blocked Shahrah Quaid-i-Azam, Naseem Chowk and other roads.

The protesters were chanting slogans against the GB government and power department officials. They said residents were facing prolonged outages in the hot weather.

They said the government was earlier making the excuse that due to slow melting of glaciers, power generation from hydel stations was low. Now, water flow is high but the department is unable to provide electricity to the consumers. They said many mega projects to overcome the crisis, including 20 megawatt Hanzal power scheme, were yet to be completed. Patients, students and housewives are the most affected by the outages.

A spokesperson for the power department in a statement said there was flooding in various canals, especially in Naltar Nullah which was the site of 18 megawatt and 14 megawatt hydropower houses. Mudflow into the powerhouses is likely to cause heavy damage to the machinery, so access of the mid-flow to the powerhouses is blocked and an excavator is continuously deployed to clean the mid-flow entering the intake channels.

“In normal situation, water supply to the power houses is cut off when the mudflow enters the tech channels and forebay until complete cleaning is ensured, but the Department of Electronics has kept the powerhouses active to maintain supply.”

The Power Department is using all resources to ensure the supply of 24 megawatts to the city, but sometimes due to severe flooding in Naltar Nullah, the machinery to fail to work.

To avoid heavy losses, the water supply to the powerhouses is cut off and the power supply is restored after cleaning the mudflow. As a result, sometimes citizens face unannounced loadshedding.

The department is taking all possible measures to supply electricity to the citizens despite adverse conditions during natural calamities.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2024