Editorial
Power and water crisis
A concrete, time-bound plan of action is necessary
A severe power and water crisis has kept the country in a vicious grip. Where power is the issue, we have of late noted certain measures the authorities have taken toward redressing the situation. But such measures have been fragmentary rather than holistic and comprehensive. Shopping malls close down at 7 pm, staggered holidays have been introduced in certain industrial zones and, overall, steps have been taken toward ensuring load management. Unfortunately, with the growing incidents of electricity going off all over the urban and rural areas, often more than once in the course of a day as well as night, these steps have failed to have the desired positive impact. Of course, many of the problems in the power sector are those that the caretaker administration has inherited. That, however, is little consolation for citizens, who only know how grievously they have been suffering. There are the many attendant problems that come with the instances of frequent power failure. The water shortage, though in a different category, nevertheless comes in here because an electricity failure makes it harder for WASA pumps to operate and for citizens to utilise their water pumps, motors, et al, to full capacity. Moreover, in a season when the young are taking part in examinations and in general trying to conduct their studies normally in the classroom, inadequate electricity surely augments the level of suffering. Nothing can be more disturbing than the sight of young boys and girls forced, in the persistent heat, into studying their textbooks in candlelight. And then there is the very vital matter of how much damage power failures or low voltage has been doing to such home appliances as PCs, television sets and refrigerators. Of critical importance now is the matter of immediate relief. One might as well ask whether the authorities have exhausted all options about an improvement in the power supply at this point. Where the question is one of water, low supply in urban localities (with some areas receiving filthy, stinking water) has brought life to a miserable standstill. The bottomline should be clear. On such issues as power and water supply, a laid-back attitude on the part of the authorities will be regrettable. These are pressing public concerns regarding which concrete, time-bound plans for solutions are necessary. It is on the approach to these issues that the overall quality of governance depends. Let that quality be forthcoming, through a formulation of immediate, medium and long-term plans about tackling these issues. And let the general public be kept apprised of the moves.
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