Goa Govt cracks down on power thieves

that the action was necessary in order to help the Electricity Department earn a profit. 8220;We need to increase revenue so as to modernise the department8217;s infrastructure,8221;Sawant said. Compared to its counterparts in other states, Goa8217;s Electricity Department reports higher loss of power during the transmission and distribution stages 8212; 28 per cent. 8220;The losses areboth technical and commercial,8221; the Power Minister noted. While the former is caused by defective transmission and distribution apparatus, the latter is an euphemism for power theft.

Sources in the State Electricity Department estimate that nearly Rs 40 crore are lost every year due to transmission and distribution losses. Forcing electricity users to pay their dues in full would solve the problem to a large extent, it is felt. But it is an uphill task, say engineers in the Electricity Departments. Power thieves have resorted to ingenious methods to avoid paying their bills. In the Kundaim and Cuncolim industrial estates, owners of ferro alloy units have constructed brick walls around electricity metres in order to deny access to employees of the Power Department.

The Government is therefore examining different ways of making the units pay up. 8220;We will now bill them higher fixed changes depending on their eligible load, in addition to power consumed by them,8221; informed Sawant. The raids against powerthieves will continue though the antiquated Indian Electricity Act dating back to 1910 which makes power disconnection and prosecution of defaulters difficult, says the Minister.

8220;We also need 500 employees to keep up with the increasing number of power substations and connections provided in the State,8221; she noted.

Meanwhile, the State Government is preparing a new power policy which will be announced after the Lok Sabha elections, according to Sawant. She refused to divulge the details of the policy on the grounds that it could violate the model code of conduct imposed by the Election Commission.

Though the State is now self-sufficient in electricity following the commissioning of the 40 MW Reliance-Salgaoncar power plant, the situation may be reversed when restrictions are lifted against allotment of new connections to industries. Last year, the Panaji bench of the Mumbai High Court banned the allotment of new power connections in the State following a severe shortage of power. The State Governmenthas appealed against the ban now that the situation has changed.

The success of Reliance-Salgaoncar has encouraged several companies in the private sector to consider diversifying into power production. This includes a businessman-turned-legislator of the ruling party who has been lobbying for a complete removal of controls in the generation, transmission and distribution of power in the State.

New power policy after pollsThe State is preparing a new power policy which will be announced after the Lok Sabha elections, according to Sawant. She refused to divulge the details of the policy on the grounds that it could violate the model code of conduct imposed by the EC.

Though the State is now self-sufficient in electricity following the commissioning of the 40 MW Reliance-Salgaoncar power plant, the situation may be reversed when restrictions are lifted against allotment of new connections to industries. Last year, the Panaji bench of the Mumbai HC banned the allotment of new power connections inthe State following a severe shortage of power. The State has appealed against the ban now that the situation has changed.