Old City residents fume over power cut jolts

Rampant blackouts and unannounced power cuts are being reported in many localities in the Old City despite assurances from the officials to streamline the power supply.

The locals complain that several areas of Chandrayangutta, Yakutpura, Karwan, Bahadurpura, Falaknuma, Kishanbagh, Golconda, Riyatsatnagar and Shaheennagar suffer unscheduled power cuts.

The power cuts are not restricted only to the day time. Blackouts are a regular feature during the nights too, much to the inconvenience and dismay of many students preparing for their exams.

“Though we alert the local fuse call offices, there is no prompt response. First of all, the staff on duty do not pick up the phone and if by chance they do take the call, the officials only give assurances, but the power is not restored,” said Imtiyaz Ahmed, a local resident of Fatimanagar in Falaknuma.

Ahmed Pasha Quadri, AIMIM legislator from Charminar said that several areas in his constituency like Khilwat, Fateh Darwaza, Doodh Bowli, Moghalpura and Gulzar Houz witness unscheduled power cuts. “The power outages are reported both during the day and night. The officials do not have stock of materials like cables and they cannot immediately replace the transformers in an emergency,” said Mr Pasha Quadri.

The situation is similar in the western parts of the city including Karwan, Golconda, Langer Houz, Humayunnagar, Sabzi Mandi, Tappachabutra and Asifnagar.

When contacted D.S. Mohan, superintendent engineer, TSSPDCL said that recently the company had taken up works pertaining to erecting new transformers in several localities. “Already, 116 new transformers have been installed in many areas and another 50 will be installed soon. Frequent power disruptions occur because clothes and other materials fall on the overhead power cables resulting in power trips,” he said.

Blackouts are a regular feature during the nights too, much to the inconvenience of students preparing for their exams.