AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Karachi: Karachi Electric Supply Company has expressed great concern over the recent surge in the theft incidents of its extra high tension (EHT) wires from live transmission circuits resulting in colossal material loss and uncalled for power outages, plus burden of extra repair and replacement work.
As per details of recent wire theft incidents, approximately 570 meters of extra high tension conductors were stolen during the month of December 2011 while this quantity grew to about 730 meters during January 2012.
Such unchecked and intentional malicious acts of thefts by the wire thieves creates misery for KESC’s unsuspecting customers, who then are often left to think, that it is a technical fault on the utility’s end, though the truth is far from it. Not only this, infect the theft of EHT wires is creating loss of millions of rupees for KESC, since such unplanned outages lead to excessive wear and tear of expensive equipment of the distribution network.
There had been three wire theft incidents only in one night, on the night of Feb. 2. One at about 1:50 AM at 132 kV Dhabeji/BOC circuit which tripped in a theft attempt between tower 76 /77. Approx ¾ span of conductor was taken away by thieves but was recovered after chasing by security.
During early hours next morning, at about 05:25 AM, a theft on 132KV KDA/Maymar circuit between towers 65/66 which ensued an exchange of fire between security and the thieves but thieves were able to take away ¾ span of conductor under the cover of gunshots. This forced the utility to conduct a shut down on the circuit for replacement of wire, affecting some areas of Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, Mauripur, North Karachi and Orangi grids.
Third incident took place at Khayaban-e-Rizwan in DHA-7 from where thieves stole 35 kilogram of blue phase wire. On the night of Feb. 1, one span of neutral wire was stolen from 11th commercial street of DHA-2 weighing 12 kilograms while another span of neutral wire weighing 12 kilograms was stolen from 31st street at Khayaban-e-Shamsheer. On Feb. 5, cable from bushing to distribution box was stolen from Haqqani Masjid PMT, Sikandarabad, Sheerin Jinnah Colony.
Even the cables from the internal wiring of consumers had been stolen. A complaint was received from a customer of Bath Island about theft of 30 meter 16mm service cable causing outage at his residence.
KESC said the general nature of theft, cutting down of mostly live 132 KVA transmission lines from high erect towers itself spoke of some expert hands behind the series of incidents as it was a high risk thievery unlikely to be carried out by common thieves.
This was enough lead for law enforcement agencies to get hold of these elements as the number of such trained criminals could be very limited and easily identifiable. KESC had already pointed out the copper junk dealers who purchased the stolen utility wires.
KESC asked law enforcement agencies to exercise vigilance through night patrol to crush the organized cable theft which had been brought under control by the utility’s own security till recent past but then some arrested members of wire thieves mafia had been released on bail giving rise to the wire stealing incidents.
For more information, contact:
Adil Murtaza
Assistant Manager, Media and PR
Karachi Electric Supply Company Limited (KESC)
2nd Floor, State Life Building No 11, Abdullah Haroon Road, Saddar, Karachi
Tel: +9221 9920 7163
Cell: +92346 822 3641
Email: adil.murtaza@kesc.com.pk