PESHAWAR: Enraged by the excessive power outages, the residents of Pejagi area in the provincial capital on Friday blocked roads and shouted slogans against the Peshawar Electric Supply Company.

Led by elders, the protesters burned old tyres and threw stones and bricks onto the roads to hamper the movement of vehicular traffic.

They later marched up to Wapda House.

The protesters said they regularly paid electricity bills but even then they`re subjected to the loadshedding for as long as 17 hoursdaily.

The people wielding sticks also tried in vain to enter the Wapda House as the security staff had already closed the main gate.

The protesters dispersed peacefully when a group of Pesco officials came out and held negotiations with them.

Another group of power consumers held a demonstration in Bala Manri area and shouted slogans against the Pesco over the excessive loadshedding.

They said the prolonged power outages had caused acute water shortage in the area and therefore, they had no option but to come onto the streets.

`We held demonstration for the second consecutive days but no action was taken by Pesco officials.

Now, we will march on the Wapda House to raise voice for our rights, said protester Irshad Ali.

He said power supply remained suspended even at iftar and sehar time though the federal government had promised to ensuresmooth power supply during those hours to facilitate the people.

Pesco director general (public relations) Shaukat Afzal said consumers belonging to Bashirabad Feeder held a demonstration against loadshedding but they were not ready to remove illegal connections.

He said the feeder was overloaded due to illegal connections.

The official said the power distribution system of the area had been divided in two sections where four hour loadshedding was observed on one line and six hours on the second.

He said the people facing loadshedding for six hours demanded their area`s attachment to the other line but that was difficult until they removed illegal connections.

`The people dispersed peacefully after negotiations with them.

Pesco chief engineer (operations) Iqbal Marwat said a joint committee comprising Pesco officials and local elders would review the loadshedding situation,` he said.The official said the committee would take decision within three days to ensure installation of power meters and removal of illegal connections and therefore, the duration of loadshedding would reduce.About the protests in Bala Manri localities, he said the line losses in the area were 66 per cent and loadsheddinglasted12 hours.

The official said there were a lot of illegal connections in the area.