KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has complained to the federal government about the fragile and unreliable transmission network which resulted in major power breakdown in Karachi on first day of Ramazan.
In a letter to Federal Minister for Water & Power Khawaja Asif on Sunday, he said that he had already expressed apprehensions with the federal minister that fragile and unreliable transmission network may collapse the power supply during Ramazan and people of Sindh would suffer immensely.
The chief minister said in his letter, “I am writing with reference to my earlier mail dated 24.05.2017 wherein apprehensions were expressed that due to fragile and unreliable transmission network the power supply may collapse during Ramazan, and people of Sindh would suffer immensely.”
“My apprehensions sadly came true on 1st day of Ramazan when 13 districts of rural Sindh and half of Karachi division plunged into darkness, after a 500 KV Hubco-Jamshoro transmission line tripped at around 2:15 am,” he said.
Murad Ali Shah said that the sudden tripping of the fragile high transmission lines created cascading effect not only in HESCO-SEPCO distribution system but also affected K-Electric which was forced to enter into an island mode for system safety by shutting down power supply to large areas of Karachi. The power has not yet been fully restored, he added.
He said the sudden power shutdown did not only deprive the Karachiites from electricity but water supply as well.
“The current power outages has distrusted the water supply from Gharo, Dhabeji, Pipri, COD, Hub and North- East Karachi pumping stations which primarily supply drinking water to the entire mega city. Karachi suffered a loss of about 150 MG water due to this power breakdown.
Read More: K-Electric slammed as Karachi suffers blackout on first day of Ramazan
“The restoration of line pack pressure requires 24 to 36 hours if power supply is restored to all interconnected pumping stations,” he said.
Reiterating his stance the chief minister said “this is a very serious situation, especially when ambient day temperatures are as high as 45 degree Celsius in most parts of Sindh and the holy month of Ramazan has just commenced.”
He said the provincial government would be in a precarious situation if lengthy power breakdowns persist compromising quality and way of life of urban and rural dwellers resulting in a law and order situation.
Syed Murad Ali Shah requesting the federal minister urged him to direct the NTDC and DISCOS to immediately take all possible measure for the restoration of electricity to all affected areas in Sindh and also rectify the faults in the 500 KV transmission line.
He said besides, repair work on Guddu-Dadu-Jamshoro 500 KV circuits may also be completed on urgent basis and ensure that no such incident takes place in future. Moreover, it is further requested that load shedding hours may be reduced to minimum, at least during Ramazan, and continuous power supply be ensured especially during iftar and sehri hours in Sindh, he said.
“I earnestly look forward for an immediate and positive response on the matter please,” the Sindh CM said.
Murad Ali Shah has sent CC of his letter to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
