Mahadiscom offers cash reward for theft leads

The Maharashtra Electricity Distribution Company (Mahadiscom) has announced cash incentive scheme for the citizens, including its employees, who would help the company detect power theft.

Any citizen or employee who will inform the company about the power theft will be given 5 per cent of the total size of the theft as a cash incentive said the company in a circular.

After Mahadiscom receives the information, raid would be carried out and if the case of the theft is found out then the citizen or employee will be paid Rs 1,000 immediately and then once the size of the theft is determined, then citizen or employee will be given the remaining amount, he added.

"Last year, in an attempt to reduce the transmission and distribution losses (TD), Mahadiscom decided to come down heavily on the power theft. Nearly about 15 per cent of the total 35 per cent T&D losses are caused by power theft," said a senior official.

The flying squads, which were formed to detect thefts from industrial and commercial customers, did a good job and detected more than one lakh cases from all over the state.

However, the top management still feels that the drive is not bringing desired result. So it has been decided to give cash incentive to detect the thefts.