Hazardous conditions

Power supply infrastructure deterioration visible in Sindh

Sukkur: One can observe rapid developments in the power sector around the world, whether in electricity generation or supply. There are no exposed wires hanging from electricity poles in developed countries because the power supply system is underground.

In developed countries, electricity supply systems are being made safer and safer so that people are not harmed and their lives and property are not jeopardised. In Pakistan, however, nothing of the sort has been done. On the contrary, the power supply sector in Pakistan is degrading rather than developing, as evidenced by the infrastructure for electricity supply in various districts of Sindh, whether managed by Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) or Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO), the supply system in all districts appears to be quite hazardous.

Sukkur, Khairpur, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Kashmore, Jacobabad, Naushahro Feroze, Larkana, and Qamber Shahdadkot, among other districts, lack an underground electricity supply system, and tangled nets of electric wires can be seen hanging from electricity poles in markets, bazaars, and busy commercial centres, as well as on the streets, making it difficult to identify which electric wire belongs to which user.

Wires of all kinds, including telephone and cable networks, can be seen entangled, posing a risk to the lives of ordinary citizens and even linemen from the Pakistan Water & Power Development Authority (WAPDA). Though WAPDA is responsible for the correctness and formation of power lines, its employees working on electric poles are the most affected by this situation.

Every day, news reports of WAPDA linemen being electrocuted and dying or of people stealing electricity being electrocuted while installing a swivel come to the fore. Meanwhile, in rural areas, where the electricity poles are visibly weak and weathered, the situation is even worse. The electric poles have been propped up by pieces of wood in several places; otherwise, they would have long since collapsed along with the wires.

Speaking to Bol News, Shuja Ghamro, leader of the WAPDA Hydro Electric Workers Union, said that dozens of linemen die each year as a result of electrocution from electric wires, which is why there are wires hanging in every street, neighbourhood, and market. According to Shuja Ghamro, widespread power theft is also to blame for this situation, as individuals tamper with the flow of electric current by using telephone wires or others similar to electric wires to steal electricity, and linemen who attempt to correct the situation are electrocuted.

He stated that, while the authority is working to ensure the integrity of these electricity wires, one thing is certain: the greatest loss caused by this power supply system is to WAPDA officials themselves.

He went on to say that a handful of local private technicians are also a major cause of the harm done to the authority’s employees and linemen. Some people employ these technicians to steal electricity; they tamper with these wires, putting the general public and WAPDA officials in danger.

Another leader of the WAPDA Hydro Electric Workers Union, Syed Zahid Hussain Shah, stated that the supply wires and power infrastructure in general have become very rotten, causing accidents.

”While WAPDA linemen are actively involved in maintaining an uninterrupted power supply, they also play a role in the department’s recovery; unfortunately, these workers are not provided with complete safety equipment to perform such hazardous work,” he added.

”We have informed higher authorities that the wires, electric poles, and other equipment in cities have become rotten and weak and need to be replaced, but no attention is being paid to it,” Zahid Hussain noted.

He also stated that the government is actively working to privatise the WAPDA department; however, relevant steps to protect employees’ lives and improve the dilapidated infrastructure are not being taken, which is why the situation is worsening.

”It is obvious that it is WAPDA’s responsibility to improve this situation, but how can employees make a difference if we don’t have the equipment?” he questioned.

Although the WAPDA workers’ union leaders maintain their position, SEPCO Superintendent Engineer Manzoor Hussain Soomro has a different viewpoint.

Manzoor Hussain, speaking to Bol News, admitted that the situation with the electric wires on the poles is certainly not good for the general public, and particularly WAPDA employees, and that such a situation always poses a threat to the lives of linemen. He added that this is why, under the direction of SEPCO Chief Saeed Ahmad Dawach, they are working quickly to secure and correct the system in various cities. He further explained that WAPDA personnel are working to secure exposed wires and metres in the markets and streets in a number of areas.

”Where the work of securing the system has been completed, you will see all the wires are properly connected and the electricity metres are installed in order,” he explained. ”Not only has this resulted in an improved electricity supply system, but it has also increased control over power theft, which is impossible to prevent with tangled electricity wires,” he explained.

He added that removing random clusters of electrical wires would automatically reduce the number of electrocution incidents.

According to Manzoor Hussain, while the system is old, efforts are being made to improve it, and the bad situation will be soon fixed. While WAPDA officials claim that work is being done to repair the damaged power line system, and it is true that the situation has improved to some extent by securing the overhead wires in some areas, but there are still many areas where these dangling, exposed wires are bound to cause major accidents one day. Not only is it necessary to survey areas where power lines have become high-risk in the midst of dense population in order to correct them, but it is also necessary to prioritise securing power lines in areas where the situation is even worse.