AYUN: People belonging to Union Council Ayun 2 held a protest demonstration against non-supply of power to their area from a hydel power station constructed by an NGO.
The protesters were carrying placards and chanting slogans against the unresolved power crisis in their area. They have been protesting the issue for the last about five days, saying the sit-in would continue till the supply of electricity to their area was ensured.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Council Ayun 2 Nazim Mohammad Baseer, Haji Zahiruddin, Mohammad Rehman, Asadullah Jan and others said the people of Ayun were being deprived of electricity from the 700 kilowatt (KV) power station constructed by SRSP through funds provided by the European Union (EU) even though there was about 350 KV surplus power.
They said the chief executive officer (CEO) of the SRSP and its district head had told the people that the powerhouse was being constructed for the consumers of Ayun and its nearby areas but after completion of the powerhouse they had taken a U-turn and were not proving power to the locals.
MPA Moulana Hidayatur Rehman and Jamaat-e-Islami Chitral chief Moulana Jamshed Ahmed visited the venue of the protest and requested the protesters to suspend the protest so that that could talk to the district administration and the SRSP officials. But the protesters refused and said they would continue their protest sit-in till the issue was resolved.
The protesters warned that if their demand was not met, they would not allow allow to divert their share of water from the Ayun stream to the powerhouse.–Muhkam Uddin Ayuni