Power theft goes unchecked

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 19

While the Power Development Department (PDP) has failed to provide round the clock electricity in the metered areas here, power theft in unauthorised colonies is going unchecked.

Power theft is one of the main reasons for damage to infrastructure, a fact even acknowledged by the PDD, but no action is being taken to prevent it.

People in several unauthorised colonies, which have sprung in the city in recent years, could be found stealing power using hooks lines.

At some places the field staff of the department even helps people steal electricity in return of money.

Under the J&K State Electricity Regularity Act, there is provision of legal action against those misusing electricity and indulging in illegal acts, but action is seldom taken.

“Visit any area, you will find wires being hooked to the power lines. Even in metered areas, consumers bypass metres to run their electronic gadgets. There should be strong action against such acts as a genuine consumer suffers because of all this,” said Adarsh Bali, a Muthi resident.

A PDD official said losses due to domestic connections posed a big challenge. The official, however, said till the enforcement wing was not given protection and training to deal with defaulters nothing could be achieved on ground.

Under the Jammu and Kashmir Electricity Act 2010, which was introduced by the government to curb the menace of power theft and curtail transmission and distribution losses, but no efforts are being made to implement it.

According to Section 95 (1) of the Electricity Act, whoever dishonestly hooks main power lines, tampers with metre, installs or uses a tampered metre, current reversing transformer, loop connection or any other device which interferes with accurate or proper registration, calibration or metering of electric current could face up to one month jail term.