PCL to intensify drive against power theft
LUCKNOW: The UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) on Saturday decided to intensify its drive against power theft by conducting mass raids in pilferage-ridden localities.
The move comes as the corporation suspects rampant pilferage may negate the efforts of providing 24x7 electricity to all.
The decision on the drive was taken at a meeting called by principal secretary, energy and UPPCL chairman Alok Kumar at Shakti Bhawan here. Additional director general (enforcement) Kamal Saxena also attending the meeting.
Kumar asked the chief engineers to identify the towns, villages, and localities where the line losses (theft) was above 30%. They should then conduct mass raids involving enforcement squads, local administration and power department’s teams, he said.
Asking them to chalk out an action plan immediately, he said such raids should first begin with 35 identified electricity divisions for better results. He also asked them to identify influential defaulters and disconnect power supply to their premises.
He said nobody should be
› Availing services of informers, going for energy audit and conducting mass raids can be the key to controlling power theft in the state ALOK KUMAR, PCL chairman
spared if found using electricity illegally. He asked the officials to hold camps prior to launching mass raids to give the last chance to people to get a legal connection.
Kumar said three-pronged strategy needed to be worked out to get better results.
“Availing services of informers, going for energy audit and conducting mass raids can be the key to controlling power theft in the state,” he said.
He said the number of UPPCL’s enforcement squads were increased to 88 from 33 for the first time in last 31 years and the work on setting up one electricity police station in each district was already in progress.
“The government is committed to providing 24x7 power to all in the time to come but for that to happen it is necessary an effective check was put on electricity theft,” he stressed.