Herat residents irked by prolonged power outages

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): Residents of western Herat province are complaining about hours-long electricity outages in this hot summer.

Syed Hujatullah, a resident of 3^rd police district of Herat city, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the power utility should properly provide electricity to all areas of the city.

Mohammad Qasim, a resident of the 4^th police district of Herat city, said electricity was suspended for up to four hours during day and night, causing them a lot of problems.

Safiullah, another resident, told Pajhwok the power utility was duty-bound to solve the electricity shortage problem in the province.

According to him, people face many problems in the absence of electricity including lack of drinking water.

“Power outages have increased these days and we ask the power utility to solve this problem as soon as possible so that people avoid problems,” he added.

Pajhwok tried to contact Da Afghanistan Barishna Shirkat (DABS) officials for comment, but did not succeed.

However, the local administration acknowledged the problem, blaming it on warm weather and high use of electricity by the city dwellers.

Nisar Ahmad Elyas, the governor’s spokesman, asked residents to save electricity.

Elyas added that the government was obliged to respond to people’s requests to solve the electricity problem as soon as possible.

Electricity in Herat is mostly imported from Iran and Turkmenistan.

According to DABS, Herat needs 300 megawatts of electricity and currently 70 percent of the electricity is maintained and there is a shortage of 30 percent.

Masoud Yasini, an expert on economic affairs in Herat, said people should make proper use of water heaters installed at homes.

sa/ma