On the instructions of Delhi Energy Minister Ashish Sood, a massive campaign against electricity theft has been launched in the national capital. This campaign has achieved success in Kamaruddin Nagar, one of the areas with highest line loss. During the investigation, misuse of electricity was revealed, after which instructions were given to take strict action.
According to the information, the level of power loss (line loss) in Kamaruddin Nagar located in Mundka division of West Delhi had increased to 56.4 percent. Due to widespread electricity theft, financial loss of about Rs 24.4 crore was being incurred every year. Investigation found that many illegal commercial and industrial units were misusing electricity by taking unauthorized connections from overhead power lines.
To improve the situation, Energy Minister Ashish Sood directed Discoms and related enforcement agencies to take strict and decisive action against electricity theft. In this sequence, a big enforcement campaign was carried out. As a result of this action, electricity theft of more than 1 crore units (kWh) has been prevented.
The impact of this campaign was immediately visible. Electricity theft in the targeted areas has reduced to about 34,000 units per day.
To make this achievement permanent, the government has decided to replace sensitive power lines with secure and theft-proof armored cables.
After the success in Kamaruddin Nagar, the Delhi government is running similar special drives in other high-risk areas of the capital. Under this, additional police forces are being deployed for secret raids and modern data analytics are being used to identify and take action against electricity theft.
Energy Minister Ashish Sood said that this widespread electricity theft continued to flourish during the tenure of the previous Aam Aadmi Party government. Despite repeated warnings, that government did not take any effective corrective steps. Turning a blind eye to illegal business activities has resulted in huge losses to public funds over the years.
Sood said that this administrative failure was an injustice to the interests of honest taxpayers and electricity consumers of Delhi. While on one hand common citizens continued to pay their electricity bills regularly, on the other hand large-scale electricity theft was allowed to continue without any hindrance.
warning of strict action
Energy Minister Ashish Sood said that the Delhi government reiterates its resolve to provide reliable, affordable and 24×7 uninterrupted electricity to honest consumers. He has given a clear warning that the electricity connections of illegal business establishments involved in electricity theft will be immediately disconnected, strict punitive action will be taken against them and their premises will also be sealed as necessary.
