SHANGLA: The Puran subdivision of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company has suspended electric supply to three union councils here over non-payment of bills.

The local elders insisted that the Pesco had disconnected power supply from the main power transmission line in Asharo area without issuing the defaulters prior notices.

`The union councils of Martung tehsil had got electric supply in 2007.

No meter reader has ever visited Kabalgram area, so we`ve been receiving inflated bills,` elderRafiullah told Dawn.

He said the residents also suffered from low voltage and excessive power outages.

The elder said the suspension of power supply was an `extreme injustice`.

`We are willing to pay bills but not the inflated ones,` he said.

Kamach Nasratkhel district councillor Haji Sultan Nabi criticised the Pesco for severing power supply to Kabalgram, Hashamkhel Dab, Behar, Kamach, Nasratkhel and Koz Kalay areas and hot and humid weather in the absence of electricity.

He said the Pesco claimed that theresidents had to clear Rs80 million arrears, so they suspended power supply.

The elders demanded the immediate restoration of electric supply and said the consumers were ready to settle down the issue with the Pesco through negotiations.

They, however, warned that if the company didn`t resume electric supply within 48 hours, the residents would stage a protest demonstration outside the Pesco office in Puran area.

The Pesco sub-divisional officer in Puran wasn`t available for reaction to the warning despite repeated attempts.