To prevent unauthorised use of electricity and its theft, the Operation and Vigilance Wing of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam has carried out raids in about 3,000 Government residential complexes and over 200 private premises in a single day.
During the raids conducted on June 6, electricity theft worth over Rs 55 lakh was detected and 98 meters were packed on the basis of suspicion, said a spokesman of the UHBVN.
He said that the Department is taking action against the consumers under the Electricity Act. FIRs will be lodged against the violators, who have not deposited the fines and they will also be arrested.
Along with imposing fine on Government officials involved in power theft, the Department is also
informing the concerned departments of such government employees to take departmental action against them, he said. Giving details about the raids, the spokesman said that in Ambala circle of north Haryana, penalty amounting to Rs 2.56 lakh has been imposed on seven government officials and 14 private consumers whereas in Yamunanagar circle, fine of Rs 3.02 lakh was imposed on 10 employees.
Similarly, penalty of Rs 55,000 has been imposed on two employees and Rs 4.75 lakh on 21 private consumers, Rs 5.73 lakh on 21 private consumers in Sonepat, Rs 1.75 lakh on two employees and Rs 4.74 lakh on 23 private consumers in Rohtak, Rs 27,000 on three employees in Kurukshetra, Rs 12,000 on one employee and Rs 69,000 on four private consumers in Kaithal and in Jhajjar circle, penalty of Rs 85,000 has been imposed on two employees.
A penalty of around Rs 25 lakh has been imposed on 70 Government employees in the south Haryana area, the spokesman said.
He added that tightening the noose on power theft will not only help the department to reduce line losses, but the other consumers will also get continuous electricity of good quality.
An appeal has been made to all the citizens of the state to inform the corporation about the incidents of power theft around them and get reward in lieu of it. Such information can be given through phone or WhatsApp numbers issued by the all sub division offices of the Power Utilities, the spokesman said.