QUETTA:
Two more power pylons were blown up near the Bakhtiarabad area of Sibi district on Friday.
In Quetta, traders observed a shutter-down strike to condemn lengthy power outages and disruption of gas supply to a large area in Balochistan.
Sources said that explosives were attached to the 22-KV pylons of the Quetta-Sibi- Uch transmission line. The blast created a shortfall of 250 megawatts, affecting at least 42 grid stations.
Talking to The Express Tribune, the spokesman for the Quetta Electric Supply Company (Qesco) said that the shortfall has mounted to 800 MW, forcing the company to cuts in power supply in and around Quetta.
“As many as 15 districts have been affected due to the recent blast. The provincial capital is currently experiencing outages lasting six hours,” he added.
Earlier, militants blew up four power pylons of high-transmission lines near the Aab-e-Gum area of Mach town, depriving the province of power supply for over a week.
The National Transmission Dispatch Company (NTDC) had just finished repairing the damaged power pylons that were blown up earlier. “The repair work will start after the company receives security clearance,” Qesco officials said. The team will first inspect the damaged power pylons then give a timeframe for the completion of repairs, the spokesman added.
Meanwhile, a complete shutter-down strike was observed here on Friday, paralysing business and trade activities.
The traders association urged the government to lay a new transmission line from Chashma to Zhob in Balochsitan. “We will be responsible for the security of the new transmission line,” they said.
They urged the government to ensure the safety of gas pipelines and power pylons that are regularly being targeted. The strike was backed by Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Awami National Party (ANP) and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F).
In another incident, unidentified assailants blew up an eight-inch diamtre gas pipeline in Lopi, Sui.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 19th, 2011.
The media & certain NGO’s have emboldened & defended these terrorists who have been destryoing govt. infrastructure worth billions of rupees for the last several years.
If the security agencies try to take action against these terrorists the media goes into overdrive condemning the army & portraying the ones blowing up installations as the victims.
This fire will never stop. The right to self determination cannot be suppressed by the oppressive occupying regime for long. The time has come. Too bad for the Punjabis.
@saba baloch
it has got nothing 2 do with the punjabis ….but yes deal with the land lords and u can get every thig in life ..no 1 can finish them they r present in punjab too…but not as powerful as they use 2 be…its the landlords who try to supress every one who stands for his basic right….education is the prob which baloch ppl face …..ppl should stop voting 4 these landlords than only they will b able 2 get eduction otherwise these pp will never let u get educated………..