PSPCL officials told to curb power theft
Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO has directed Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) officials to conduct special checking across the state to detect cases of power theft in accordance with the “zero tolerance” policy against corruption.
Special checking would help check revenue loss to the government, he said. The minister asked the PSPCL authorities to submit daily report to him in that regard. All power connections, including domestic, commercial, agricultural and industrial, should be checked. There should be no laxity in checking power connections and providing daily reports, he added. PSPCL or PSTCL officials found indulging in power theft, directly or indirectly, would not be spared. Their services would be terminated with immediate effect, he added.
The minister said he would personally monitor everything. So far, 81,262 connections had been checked and around Rs 13.30 crore fine imposed on those indulging in power theft.
He said 27,285 connections were checked in Border Zone Amritsar, 989 cases of power theft detected and Rs 3 crore penalty imposed on defaulters. In West Zone Bathinda, 6,079 connections were checked, 872 cases of power theft detected and Rs 3.03 crore penalty imposed.
In North Zone Jalandhar, 10,718 connections were checked, 741 cases of theft detected and Rs 1.25 crore penalty imposed. In Central Zone Ludhiana, 10,699 connections were checked, 707 cases of theft detected and Rs 2.43 crore penalty imposed. In South Zone Patiala, 18,096 connections were checked, 1,116 cases of power theft detected and Rs 2.47 crore penalty was imposed.
