40 power theft cases found at Uran, `10L fine collected

IN A MONTH MSEDCL will also start comprehensive electric metre testing in the entire taluka to curb the menace; officials say 40% of the supply is being stolen

URAN: With increasing instances of power theft coming to light, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) is cracking the whip on those involved in the menace.

After an inspection major drive in Panvel region recently, a similar drive was conducted in Uran area by the MSEDCL’s Uran division.

At least 40 cases of power thefts have been detected in the past one month in Uran region and action has been taken against those responsible for it.

Pravin Sali, additional executive engineer of Uran MSEDCL, said, “We have initiated a special inspection and detection drive as there were reports of a number of instances of power thefts.”

“From the 40 cases power theft cases, we have collected fines of Rs10,76,330. These people had illegally consumed 69,943 units of power,” said Sali.

If a person is guilty of stealing electricity, he may not get a passport if he has applied for one.

The police can also extern the accused.

Electricity theft is a non-bailable offence and attracts jail for three to five years.

The power thieves, officials say, had used a number of ways to evade electricity bills.

“Some consumers had doctored the circuit of the electric metre, some had tapped the service wire while others had used the looping technique from the electric metres,” said Sali.

“Even as consumption was high, the metre reading was quite less. This led to power leakage,” said Sali.

At present power theft and leakage in Uran taluka is reported to be 40%. The figure rose to 42% in JNPT feeder and GTP feeder areas. If power leakage in feeders exceeds 42%, load shedding becomes mandatory.

“The feeder load is currently on the border line. If power leakage is not reduced substantially, we will have to start load shedding in the area,” said Sali.

“To control power leakage and theft in the region, we will soon be conducting comprehensive electric metre testing in entire Uran taluka. All those violating the norms will be strictly dealt with,” said Sali.

Last month, raids were conducted in Taloja and nine villagers of the region.

This led to a detection of 278 cases of power thefts and Rs21 lakh worth of illegal power usage. The MSEDCL has registered police cases against those refusing to pay. Squads have been formed to clamp down on the menace.