UP’s power crackdown: Spy on neighbour

Power theft reportedly robs the UPPCL of anything between Rs 800 and Rs 1,000 crore each year.

It’s not as easy as it sounds, though: information of the power theft will have to be given in a pre-determined format, including details of the nature of theft, the name of the person involved and the place. Power theft was recently made a cognisable offence in the state.

There are 88 lakh power consumers and another 10 lakh pilfer electricity, said Shailendra Dubey, secretary General, All India Power Engineers Federation.

‘‘Last year, we registered 10,901 FIRs in connection with power theft and arrested 5,600 people,’’ Shailendra Sagar, IG Vigilance in the corporation added. But even senior government officials have been found to have drawn more power than the sanctioned limit.

In August 1999, the corporation’s enforcement wing raided the posh Butler Palace colony where 16 of the 28 offenders were senior officers. No case was registered against them.

‘‘They know most of the defaulters, but they can’t take action because the offenders either enjoy political patronage or live in congested areas where even the police cannot enter.’’