DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

Punjab Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO has given strict directions to the officials of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to carry out special checking across the state, to check power thefts in accordance with zero tolerance policy against corruption of Punjab Government under the leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, he reiterated that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government is committed to promoting energy conservation and curbing power theft. He said regular special checking are necessary to check revenue losses to the government, adding that checking of power thefts would also ensure better services to the regular power consumers of the state.

The Minister asked the concerned PSPCL authorities to provide him reports on daily basis about checking. He categorically stated that all the power connections, including domestic, commercial, agricultural and industrial should be checked. He categorically stated that there should not be any kind of laxity in checking of power connections and providing reports on daily basis.

He strictly said that any PSPCL/PSTCL official and employee found indulging into power thefts directly or indirectly would not be spared at any cost. He added any such official of any rank would be terminate as per rules of PSPCL with immediate effect and a strict action would be initiated as per the law. He asked the Distribution and Enforcement Teams to adhere his instructions in toto otherwise they should remain ready to face strict action.

The Minister said he would be personally monitoring everything and reports that would be submitted to him by the officials. He directed to impose penalty and register FIRs against those found indulging into thefts of power. He categorically stated that menace of power theft was not less than corruption, therefore, none indulging into this kind of "corruption" could be spared at any cost.

He said the Distribution and Enforcement Wings of PSPCL have done remarkable work in checking power connections and detecting thefts during recently launched drives in the state. He said so far, a total 81,262 connections were checked. Of these connections, thefts were detected and a penalty of approximately Rs.13.30 Crore was imposed on the defaulters.

Giving Zone-wise details, the Minister said in Border Zone Amritsar, a total 27,285 connections were checked. Of these connections, thefts were detected in 989 cases and penalty of Rs.3.01 Crores was imposed.

He said in West Zone Bathinda, a total 6,079 connections were checked. Of these connections, thefts were detected in 872 cases and penalty of Rs.3.03 Crores was imposed.

The Minister said in North Zone Jalandhar, a total 10,718 connections were checked. Of these connections, thefts were detected in 741 cases and penalty of Rs.1.25 Crores was imposed.

Further, he said in Central Zone Ludhiana, a total 10,699 connections were checked. Of these connections, thefts were detected in 707 cases and penalty of Rs.2.43 Crores was imposed.

Adding, he said in South Zone Patiala, a total 18,096 connections were checked. Of these connections, thefts were detected in 1,116 cases and penalty of Rs. 2.47 Crores was imposed.
(editor@dailyworld.in)