Bathinda, February 10
The helipad meant for VIPs in Bathinda district has a “kundi” connection to meet its power needs.

The helipad at Kaljharani village depends on “stolen” power to serve the likes of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. It is situated close to CM’s village (Badal) in Muktsar district.

The police authorities have converted Kaljharani grain market into a permanent helipad and deployed four policemen there on permanent basis. Two rooms have been constructed there. One of these is air-conditioned and is meant for the Chief Minister. The other room is meant for the policemen on duty. Both these rooms get power supply through a “kundi” connection from a low-tension wire passing from nearby. Lineman Didar Singh from Powercom said a month ago the policemen on duty were asked to get a meter installed there, but there had been no progress on that front so far.

As per Section 135 of the Electricity Act, 2003, an FIR needs to be registered against anyone found stealing power. There is a provision to penalise persons against whom the charge of power theft is proved.

SP (Headquarters) Jasvir Singh said the policemen had been deployed at the helipad for security reasons. He, however, said he was not aware of the “kundi” connection at the helipad.

The land for the helipad was provided by the Punjab Mandi Board. It shifted its grain market to some other place to spare land for the helipad and also spent money from its own resources to construct the helipad and raise a platform.

Sources in the Gidderbaha market committee said earlier the helipad area had a meter in the name of the Mandi Board, but when the land was handed over for the helipad, it wrote to Powercom to disconnect the meter.

Powercom XEN Harish Gothwal said he was not aware of the power theft and that he would get it checked.