(MENAFN- Pajhwok Afghan News) MAIMANA (Pajhwok): The main power transmission line in northwestern Faryab province has been cut 52 times over the past nine month as a result of armed clashes between security forces and Taliban militants, an official said on Sunday.
Syed Abdul Hamid, Da Afghanistan Breshna Shirkat (DABS) director, told Pajhwok Afghan News the 110 kilowatt power line between Maimana and Andkhoy was snapped 52 times, disrupting electricity supply for 860 hours. As a consequence, the power utility could not collect about 76 million afghanis.
He said DABS had suffered more than two 2.4 million afghanis in losses, including damage to equipment, cables and pylons besides injuries to its personnel due to the conflict. Visits to areas of damage were also affected.
The DABS head blamed both government security forces and militants for caused inflicting financial losses on the power utility in the past nine months.
About 60kilometers of electricity lines in Khwaja Sabsposh, Sherin Tagab and Dawlatabd district have been harmed to the extent that they could be damaged or cut off even by the mildest wind and cold weather. They need to be changed.
Around 57,000 households in the provincial capital, Pashtunkot, Sherin Tagab, Khwaja Sabzposh and Dawlatabad districts are benefiting from the 110kv Maimana-Andkhoy transmission line.
On the other hand, Hamid said several government departments and the general public owed DABS 194 million afghanis. Efforts were ongoing to recover the dues, the official continued.
Meanwhile, residents said their day-to-day affairs were linked to power supply, whose disruption led to losses in terms of work, economic activity, throwing the city into darkness and facilitating robberies.
Mohammad Rassoul, a government employee, agreed the power line was frequently affected by the war. Getting a monthly salary of 10,000 afghanis, he complained it was hard for him meeting family needs. Gas and wood purchases added to his burden, he grumbled.
Tawab, keeping computer service shop, told Pajhwok as a result of frequent cutting of the power line had forced him to buy a generator for 25,000 afghanis.
Metalsmith Yar Mohammad said that when electricity supply was suspended, he could neither meet customer demands nor pay trainees wages, nor shop rent. He urged security forces and Taliban to avoid damaging power pylons.
Meanwhile, an official held militants responsible for 20 percent of damage to the power infrastructure and security force for 80 percent.
Wishing not to be named, he said large areas of Khwaja Sabzposh, Sherin Tagab and Dawlatabad districts were under Taliban control. The security forces - placed near the main power transmission line during clashes - failed to hit the rebel targets, he said, adding they often struck power pylons.
With the Taliban yet to comment, police spokesman Abdul Karim Yourish confirmed the cutting of the transmission lines. However, he alleged, most of the losses happened due to gunfire from the insurgents.
He said the security forces had been directed not to damage facilities during fighting.
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