Protestors seek power connections

JALALABAD (Pajhwok):  A number of residents on Wednesday protested against the electricity department in Jalalabad, the capital of eastern Nangarhar province, demanding power connections.

The protestors claimed electricity from the Naghlu power station had been extended to Jalalabad nearly one and a half years ago, but they remained deprived of connections.

They warned if their demand was ignored, they would continue their protest. One of the protestors, Naqib, told Pajhwok Afghan News that despite the availability of government’s electricity, they continued to benefit from expensive electricity of generators.

A kilowatt of generator electricity cost 50 afghanis, he said, adding they were often deceived in the name of generator electricity, which was in fact government’s electricity.

“This is government electricity but is sold in the name of generator-produced electricity. We demand our right and cannot stay silent anymore.”

Another protestor, Wali Jan, said their houses were situated near the electricity department, but remained deprived of the facility.

“It has been one and a half years, the electricity from Naghlu power station has been extended to Jalalabad. We live in the middle of the city and see nearby areas have been electrified,” he said.  He urged the electricity department to resolve their problems at the earliest.

Electricity Department head Muhibur Rahman Momand said demands of the protesting residents were genuine,  but rejected if government electricity was sold in the name of generator-producing electricity.

He said so far many areas in Jalalabad had been extended electricity from the Naghlu hydropower station and work on its extension to the remaining parts was in full swing.

He assured the problem of the protesting residents would be resolved soon and electricity to their houses would be extended.

ma/mud

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