Saturday February 6, 2016
Kabul (BNA) One week after the destruction of the first power pylon in Baghlan, the Breshna Company has recently reported on destruction of few other power pylons.
Although, this company has not provided details on exact number of destroyed pylons, but quoting locals, available reports say that several pylons were sawed by armed insurgents and failed. In the wake of power pylons destruction in Baghlan, transmission of Uzbekistan imported electricity was stopped to Kabul. According to information of Breshna Company, the destroyed power pylons had transmitted 280 MW electricity form Uzbekistan and at present 70MW Diesel thermo power and 80MW power from Tajikistan are available to Kabul. Last year, due to heavy snowfall and avalanche power pylons collapsed and power supply was stopped to several provinces for many weeks and lack of power caused serious damages to people. Although it was a natural problem due to avalanche but it showed that the authorities concerned had even no minimal readiness on similar situations. But current destruction of power pylons in Baghlan is different from last year.
Currently heavy fighting is going on in Baghlan between ANSF and the Taliban insurgents and the destroyed pylons are in Taliban area of influence. Due to this reason, the technical employees were not allowed to go to that area. It is not expected that the area would be cleaned from Taliban insurgents soon and the power pylons be repaired and operational. The Taliban insurgents are involved in fighting with ANSF and want to lead the government into strained circumstances. In fact either in the past or now the Taliban has been targeting directly the civilian population and their interests for examples, roads bridges, burning of schools are simple examples that Taliban didn’t spare to target them in the last 15 years. The insecurities have considerably increased and the most secure places have been changed to battlefields that increased people concern. Baghlan fighting should be correctly managed otherwise the danger of its collapse is suspending. Band-e-Shahbuddin area in which the power pylons located is under the Taliban control. The main concern is not cutting of power supply, but it is the possible collapse of Baghlan province by Taliban. If the capital city is sunk in the darkness or how much the people pay for power supply expenditures, are not amazing. But, in the depth of darkness and lack of electricity tragic crimes could be committed. Lailuma Noori
