Call it an advantage of e-governance or the mobile revolution in the State. At least four erring engineers have been placed under suspension after true information which landed in the message box of the mobile phone of Energy Secretary Pradep Kumar Jena, who immediately alerted the CESU and the OERC.
The power distribution companies (Discoms) are suffering huge losses on account of pilferage of electricity. To curb the menace, theft detection drives are being launched at several industrial locations by distribution franchisee Enzen in association with the CESU. In the processes, Enzen and CESU caught hold of Balaji Melters, Pallahara, a large industrial consumer who was indulging in direct theft of electricity by bypassing the metering unit. The complete metering arrangement was inspected by CESU and Enzen engineers on October 26.
FIRs were lodged by against Balaji Melters at the Pallahara police station and the Energy police station, Angul. The penal amount assessed on account of this theft amounts to `28.54 lakh. On account of this, Enzen has terminated its two officials from services.
On finding prima facie evidence of mischief, the CESU has also suspended Dhaneswar Nanda (Manager, TED), BN Pradhan (SDO, Pallahara), Chinmaya Dalabehera (Asst Manager, MRT) and Shantanu Sahoo (SDO, MRT). Further inquiry is going on by the OERC and the CESU, said sources.