Despite drop in city's temperature, the state-owned power utility has been unable to control power breakdowns. The old transmission and distribution network of the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) has added to the miseries of Karachiites who are facing power failures day and night.
From last week's poor performance in severe heat wave, the power utility is still unable to handle sudden breakdowns as they repeatedly hit various city localities on Monday, including Dhoraji, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, New Karachi, Federal B. Area, North Karachi, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Manzoor Colony, Defence View, Allahwala Town, Korangi, Shah Faisal and Malir.
Major power breakdown took place in Liaquatabad town where grid stations remained shut off for more than five hours for repairs and replacement of transmission line.
The closure of grid station kept entire Nazimabad, Liaquatabad and Gole Market in the dark from 1:30pm till 7pm. During this period, a few shopkeepers closed their shops and only after two hours of electricity closure, markets in affected areas became deserted.
Sources in power utility told Business Recorder that the KESC is facing a power shortage of 200-MW that is why it was unable to cater to sudden increase in electricity demand. The KESC infrastructure, which was already performing badly, was worsened with unexpected increase in power demand.
They said that the restructuring plan was underway and will take time to avoid overloading of transformers. Secondly, the sources added, transmission and distribution losses were also making it difficult for power utility to handle the situation, which was making efforts to control them as done successfully in Clifton & Defence Zone and Gulshan-e-Iqbal & Gulistan-e-Jauhar Zone where T&D losses were brought down to 18 percent.
In New Karachi T&D losses stood at over 55 percent and in Landhi over 50 percent. In industrial areas, like SITE they stand at only 8 percent while in Korangi Industrial Area 12 percent. The average T&D losses of the city stand at 33 percent.
The KESC received complaints from various locations of the city on Monday where faults had developed in the electricity network. The number of complaints registered by KESC complaint centres increased sharply over the past few days. Many residents complained about low voltage, adding their home appliances were developing faults due to it.
Furthermore, a large portion of the city remained dry on Monday as the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) water pumps could not be operated for want of electricity supply.
The District West, Central and parts of South were the worst affected areas, where water supply remained suspended for the third day in a row.
The grid station closure worsened water supply position in all those areas that were being supplied water from the Nazimabad water pumping stations. Entire Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, Liaquatabad and Orangi towns suffered drought-like situation.
Residents of Lyari, Nanakwara, Old Bakra Piri, Napier Road, Baldia town and Mohajir Camp have reported water crisis in their localities.
Private water tankers were charging Rs400-500 per tanker of 1200 gallons. The free distribution of water was being managed in some areas such as Orangi town but this arrangement was insufficient to meet the demand.
Community taps that usually meet part of the requirement remained closed and the load shifted toward free distribution of water.
Aslam Mujahid of Orangi town told Business Recorder that people were purchasing water after pooling money to meet their requirement. He said heat waves, power breakdown and water shortage had made life difficult for him and his family.
Officials of the KWSB said power breakdown was frequent and disturbed water pumping regularly. They said the KESC management had asked them to install power generators, as they did not have control over power breakdown.
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