As it seeks to improve the power situation in the State, the BJP Government in Uttar Pradesh has made prepaid meters mandatory in all Government colonies to ward off non-payment of bills after the exit of the inhabitants. It is also aiming at providing electricity to 60,000 primary schools of the total 1,69,000 Prathmik Pathshalas in the State.
“We are tightening the administrative structure to bring about overall improvement in the power situation and setting up electricity thanas (police stations) to prevent thefts,” said UP's Power Minister Shrikant Sharma.
There would be 75 electricity thanas in each district of UP with officials mandated to carry out five raids each day to detect electricity thieves and register an FIR promptly against the culprits.
Sharma said the power theft would now invite the harsh Goonda Act and the individual caught a “second time” would straightaway go to jail. UP's electricity theft is huge standing at 38 per cent of the power produced with the State running a loss of
Rs 29,000 crore.
Sharma said the Government will welcome power companies which could produce cheap electricity. The maximum demand in the state peaks at 20,000 MW with grid capacity around 18,500 mw which would be increased to 22,000 MW to cope with the next summer season.
He said prepaid meters have been installed in all Government housing colonies so that there was no revenue loss on account of the non-payment of the bill by the tenant making his exit. A single meter purchased costs Rs 5,000 while in bulk its cost is much less at Rs 1,000 only.
Sharma said the Government would be providing electricity to 60,000 primary schools in the State which have no electricity at all . There are a total of 169,000 primary schools in UP.
“In UP, an electricity connection can be easily availed with the help of an Aadhaar card, voter ID card or mobile connection. For those living below the poverty line, tariff is Rs 2 per unit and they can have power connection by initially paying Rs 80 and thereafter Rs 75 in installments for 16 months,” he said.
The Power Minister, who is also spokesperson for the UP Government, said the Yogi dispensation has set six months' target for itself to make the State corruption-free and crime-free, and improve the health, education, water, roads and jobs situation.