After detecting of a power theft at a mini-steel plant in Dhalbhumgarh in Ghatshila sub-division, a team of Jharkhand Urja Vikash Nigam ltd (JUVNl) on Tuesday raided a mini-steel plant at Chakulia in Ghatshila sub-division and unearthed power theft. The team swooped inside of Shankar Ferro Alloys Pvt ltd located in Chakulia and detected the theft
According to information, the management of the Shankar Ferro Alloys Pvt ltd which manufactured iron ingots had tempered main meter and check meter by causing a short-circuit in the metering unit.
The raiding team has unearthed the ‘tempering’ but also recovered pins from inside both the meters which were sealed.
Executive engineer, JUVNl, Ghatshila division, Anand Kaushik who was leading a six-member team for the raid said the management of Shankar Ferro Alloys said they were surprised to see the tempering of the first meter.
“We have found that the company management had manipulated to deactivate both the main meter and also the check-meter. We found out the electric theft by spending over four hours at the metering unit of Shankar Ferro Alloys Pvt ltd," said the executive engineer.
Kaushik said they have slapped a penalty of Rs 2.54 crores on the management of Shankar Ferro Alloys after discovery of the power theft. He also pointed out that they have stopped power supply to the company since 4 am today.
"We have been receiving complaints about the theft and we were shocked to see during the raid that there was no match between the actual extent of power drawn to the mini-steel plant and the extent of power consumption shown on the metering unit. Then after investigation we found that there was a hole behind the cover of the metering unit,” said an official.
Officials said that due to large scale power theft and tampering of meter bills it is essential to take strict actions otherwise the present scenario would only get worst. "We are playing the role of facilitator similar to trading commodities to the public and when the latter fails to reciprocate in the true sense and instead resorts to pilferage possibility of sustaining regular power supply to the consumers is very remote," conceded an officer.
“The rampant power thefts, tampering of meters and long pending dues of industries are a matter of great concern. Though I welcome stern steps to check all forms of malpractices but the corporate consumers should also be targeted. Several power bill defaulters had been resorting to illegal re-connection even after their lines were snapped. Surprise drive at night must soon be undertaken to detect such unauthorised connections,” noted an official of Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry.