UP146;s power crackdown: Spy on neighbour

Power theft reportedly robs the UPPCL of anything between Rs 800 and Rs 1,000 crore each year.

It8217;s not as easy as it sounds, though: information of the power theft will have to be given in a pre-determined format, including details of the nature of theft, the name of the person involved and the place. Power theft was recently made a cognisable offence in the state.

There are 88 lakh power consumers and another 10 lakh pilfer electricity, said Shailendra Dubey, secretary General, All India Power Engineers Federation.

8216;8216;Last year, we registered 10,901 FIRs in connection with power theft and arrested 5,600 people,8217;8217; Shailendra Sagar, IG Vigilance in the corporation added. But even senior government officials have been found to have drawn more power than the sanctioned limit.

In August 1999, the corporation8217;s enforcement wing raided the posh Butler Palace colony where 16 of the 28 offenders were senior officers. No case was registered against them.

8216;8216;They know most of the defaulters, but they can8217;t take action because the offenders either enjoy political patronage or live in congested areas where even the police cannot enter.8217;8217;