Syed Ali Shah, Manan Mandokhail:
Growers blocked roads in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan against unannounced load shedding on Wednesday. Growers action committee blocked the main GPO Chowk in Quetta and Syed Hameed Cross in the Killa Abdullah district of the province.
“Unannounced load shedding has damaged our standing crops”, Abdul Qahar Agha, one of the central office-bearers of the Growers Action Committee (GAC) said. He said the Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO) had failed to ensure the provision of power supply to growers and other domestic consumers across the province.
A large number of growers had gathered at the main GPO Chowk to vent their anger over the prolonged and unannounced load-shedding in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan. “The province is facing around 1000 megawatts shortfall”, Engineer Karim Jamali, the QESCO Chief stated.
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QESCO facing a shortfall of 1000 megawatts
The protesters also chanted slogans against the provincial government and QESCO authorities for their failure to provide power supply to growers and other consumers in Balochistan. “We have approached the Chief Minister Balochistan to take up this issue with the federal government”, Asghar Tareen, a member provincial assembly from the Jamiat ul Ulema e Islam (JUI) said.
Mr. Tareen joined the protest demonstration of growers and endorsed their demands. “Our party stands by the growers’ community”, he mentioned. He demanded of the QESCO authorities to make sure provision of power supply to growers.
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“Our standing crops damaged”, Qahar Agha says
The protesters lamented that unannounced and prolonged load-shedding has severely damaged standing crops in Pishin, Killa Abdullah, Kalat, Mastung, and other parts of Balochistan. “We demand compensation from the government”, Qahar Agha said.
The growers also blocked Syed Hameed Cross in the Killa Abdullah district in protest against power outages. Passengers faced difficulties because of the blockade of the road. They used alternated routes to reach their destinations.
Finally, the Balochistan Minister for Food, Zamarak Achakzai and Deputy Commissioner Killa Abdullah, Munir Ahmed Kakar held negotiations with protesters to reopen the road.
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