In view of power thefts being reported from several areas, the vigilance team of Uttarakhand Power Corporation limited (UPCl) conducted raids in Haldwani, Roorkee and Haridwar on Thursday. Cases have been registered against the power stealers in the police stations concerned. As per the UPCl sources, 25 persons were caught using illegal power connection in Haldwani and Roorkee on the day. The raid followed the direction from the the managing director UPCl BCK Mishra for launching drives to stop such pilferage going on at Haldwani of Nainital district and Roorkee of Haridwar district. The vigilance team swooped down on several places like Malika Bagicha and Nai Basti in Haldwani with 14 persons being caught using illegal power connection. In Roorkie, raids were conducted at several places like Udalheri, libbarheri, lalwara in Roorkee too and 11 persons were caught stealing power while using illegal power connection.
After the raids were over, UPCl spokesperson and chief engineer SK Singh said that 25 persons had been booked under power pilferage charges. “They were found using power connection without authorization. Besides, FIRs were lodged against some of them in the police stations concerned. Such drive would continue to check power thefts across the state in the coming days, he added.
Mishra appealed to the people to inform UPCl on toll free number 1800-180-4185 between 10 am and 5 pm on any working day about any case of power pilferage. The names of the persons who will inform the department about power theft in their localities will be kept secret, he assured. Customers have been appealed to register their complaints or seek information on UPCl’s customer toll free number 1800-419-0405, he added.
Moreover, Mishra said that the customers should be benefited by the SMSs the officials are sending to them while informing them about the power cuts and the amounts of the electricity bills. To have their mobile numbers registered, they are to give missed calls to the number 9888-25-0405, he said.