Patiala, June 13
Transformer thieves have become active in the state. A spate of robberies in the district in the past two months bear testimony to the fact.
Transformers, are being increasingly raided for the oil and coils contained in them. In recent months, thieves, who seem to have organised into a gang, pulled down around 20 transformers in the Sanaur block of the district in the past two months. Incidents of thefts have been reported in other parts of the district also.
Last month thieves pulled down a transformer in Pur Mandi village near here and buried it in the Ghaggar river.
They were nabbed when they tried to dig out the transformer at night to take out the contents. The PSEB sources disclosed that despite being caught red-handed they were let off later on.
The sources said transformers have become an easy target for small time criminals as they do not have to reckon with any security while dismantling them.
They said most transformers were robbed by local people who wanted to make a fast buck by selling off its oil and aluminium contents.
They said thieves usually brought down transformers in the night. Theft could be stopped only if the transformers were properly installed, they said.
Villagers are also proposing to keep a check on transformers with panchayats employing someone for the purpose.
They said besides causing loss to the electricity board, transformer thefts doomed them, especially during the paddy season.
They said there was a shortage of transformers in the state and the Board had invited tenders for purchase of transformers.
A perusal of the official records of the PSEB also revealed that transformers theft is on the rise. According to the sources, in the last financial year transformer thefts resulted in a loss of Rs 1 crore to the Board. Number of transformer thefts in the last financial year was 317 and in the previous to last it was 271.
Last year 109 incidents of theft were recorded in the border zone comprising Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts followed by 87 incidents in the south zone comprising Sangrur, Ropar and Patiala districts.
Thefts in the border zone cost the Board Rs 38 lakh and those in the south zone accounted for a loss of Rs 28 lakh.
The board sources and many panchayats feel the problem can be solved if the Board established its own vigilance stations, a move which was mooted earlier but was dropped due to political compulsions.
