SHANGLA: The people of Bisham tehsil blocked Karakoram Highway and shopkeepers observed shutter down strike on Thursday to protest delay in making operational the 132KV grid station.
The protesters reached the power house of Khan Khwar project from different areas of Bisham and blocked KKH to traffic. Call for the protest was given by a local jirga.
Addressing the protesters, jirga members Sherin Zada Khan, Haji Rahim Shah, Guldad Khan, Mohammad Nasim, Wakeel Khan, Wasi Shah and Master Hamidur Rehman said that Pesco had to make the grid station operational on July 26 but it failed to do so.
“We want electricity from Khan Khwar power project because we have rendered our cultivated lands, mini-power stations and water mills to the project. The grid station is almost ready but Pesco is delaying it deliberately,” said Haji Rahim Shah.
He said that Pesco was changing dates for making operational. He said that the grid station could not be completed despite its several inaugurations.
“We have given several deadlines to Pesco and its officials assured us that the grid station is almost completed and would be started in July but yet to be started. We want power supply to Bisham and Shang, Pesco may give supply line to Maira, Dandai and Chakesar but later on,” Sherin Zada Khan said.
Master Hamidur Rehman said that they shut all shops, markets and filling stations because they needed uninterrupted power supply to the city. He said that electricity was provided to other cities from Khan Khwar, Allai Khwar and Dubair Khwar power projects but local people deprived of their rights.
After eight hours protest, SDO Mohammad Imran held negotiations with the jirga members and assured them of provision of electricity from the grid station.
“I wished to start the grid station three months ago but it was incomplete as NTDC staff had some objections,” he said. He added that the grid station would be energised on August 10 before Eidul Azha.
The protesters threatened that they would disconnect power supply to national grid from Khan Khwar project if the grid station was not made functional on the promise date.
