CM orders crackdown on power theft

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today ordered the state electricity department to crack down on power theft, especially in border areas such as Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Faridkot, Ferozepur etc.
The problem was rampant in the border areas and it was necessary to check it, he said at a meeting called to discuss the new draft industrial policy.
He directed the concerned departments to involve civil authorities in the enforcement of the law across the state, an official spokesperson said.
He pointed out that line losses in some parts of Tarn Taran were a whopping over 41 per cent, while Sangrur, Amritsar and Malout were also badly affected, according to the spokesperson.

Singh said that such losses continued to be high in areas where local protests and political patronage had prevented the department from installation of meters outside the premises of the consumers.
In contrast, areas where the department had been successful in installing the meters, the losses had come down drastically, he said.

Data provided by the department shows that after Tarn Taran (Bhikiwind), with 41.54 per cent line losses, Muktsar (Malout) was the worst hit at 41.38 per cent, followed by Tarn Taran (Patti) at 38.18 per cent.
Sub-urban Amritsar reported 37.92 per cent and sub urban Amritsar (west) 32.04 per cent, according to the spokesperson. Other high-loss areas included Faridkot, Sangrur, Gurdaspur and Ferozepur.

All border areas were showing huge line losses, according to the spokesperson, who said the chief minister has made it clear that no laxity would be tolerated.