To address the problem of frequent cases of power pilferage in Uttar Pradesh, the government has now decided to set up exclusive anti-electricity theft police stations in every district.
The government also raised the number of enforcement teams from 33 to 88 to launch a crackdown against those involved in power pilferage. As many as 53 teams are already functioning.
A communiqué of the government on Tuesday said that this year, 20,401 cases of power theft were registered and a compounded fine of Rs 2.75 crore was realised from the offenders.
Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Kumar Awasthi said the local police were already burdened with law and order work so the investigation into the power theft cases were being hampered hence the government had decided to set up a dedicated police station for power theft in each of the 75 districts of the state. He said 63 power theft police stations had already started functioning in all big cities of the State.
Awasthi said that from September 2019 to May this year, 52,799 power theft cases had been registered in these dedicated police stations.
He said that the anti-theft police stations would be a big help in checking power pilferage. “These police stations have been established in compliance with the state government’s decision and would help to ensure speedy investigation of power pilferage cases in the state,” he said.
“All basic amenities needed for running a policing station are in place at these stations. People can file a report if there are any irregularities and crimes related to electricity,” he said, adding that the measure would provide requisite assistance to the Energy Department in curbing power pilferage as well as in realising its pending dues.
Now the power utility staff would not have to wait for availability of police backup for carrying out checking drives or surprise raids after information is received about power theft,” Awasthi claimed.
Those posted in these police stations will have the powers a police officer but will specifically deal with crimes under the Electricity Act. The UPPCL has also marked sites in various districts to establish the police stations.