Maha Vitaran intensifies drive against power theft

MUMBAI: State-owned power distribution company Maha Vitaran has busted 7,132 cases of power theft across Maharashtra in a special drive carried out over a fortnight. These cases involve losses of around Rs 4.71 crore to Maha Vitaran, managing director Ajay Bhushan Pandey said.

Of this, the company has recovered dues around Rs 97 lakh so far. The drive has helped Maha Vitaran reduce the losses on account of power thefts and transmission and distribution failure to 29.98% from more than 32% before, Mr Pandey said.

The drive comes in the wake of PM Manmohan Singh’s statement at last month’s chief ministers’ conference that the energy sector was afflicted with the “cancer” of power theft. The PM had asked state governments to carry out special efforts in their states. All regions in the state have reported losses though certain pockets in Marathwada top the list of loss-making circles.

Parbhani in Marathwada tops the list of loss-making circles of Maha Vitaran with 60% losses. In monetary terms, 1% translates into a loss of Rs 200 crore to the distribution company, Mr Pandey said. Next on the list is Beed (59%), Osmanabad (55.04%), Latur (55%), and Nanded (55%), all in Marathwada.

The circle reporting minimum losses is Vashi in Navi Mumbai with only 9.77% T&D losses. The drive, however, was carried out in only those circles which were identified for reporting more than 30% losses. All three sections of consumers — residential, commercial, and industrial, were covered in the drive.

Mr Pandey acknowledged that the drive had to be a sustained exercise and the company needed a police or security staff permanently attached to it to continue the drive. “Some states have security staff permanently attached to their power utilities to detect and bust cases of power theft. We will also prepare a similar proposal,” Mr Pandey said.

Of the 7,132 cases of power theft, Maha Vitaran has filed FIRs in 1,172 cases. However, no FIR has been filed against a single employee of Maha Vitaran though Mr Pandey admitted that employees could be hand in glove with the culprits. “Action would certainly be taken against employees if their involvement in power theft has caused losses to Maha Vitaran,” he said.