open view news desk

Jammu : The Power development Department has launched ‘Inspection week’ to curb the menace of Power theft so that the genuine consumers do not suffer on this account.

The drive would initiate measures like removal of illegal connections, disconnecting un-authorized excess load, detecting meter tampering cases and other irregularities besides initiating penal action against the defaulters under State Electricity Rules. Special training has also been imparted to the said workers for conducting these inspections.

On the first day, as many as 625 inspections were conducted and more than 101 power defaulters were booked under appropriate clause of the State Electricity Act. Besides, disconnections were also affected thereby removing around 125 kW Illegal/ unauthorized load running on the system.

As per official sources, a total of 15 inspection teams have been constituted by the Division for the said purpose.

According to Sanjay Sharma, Executive Engineer of the Division, “this special drive for inspections has been initiated to sanitize the entire area under the jurisdiction of this Division from all kinds of power violations/ irregularities since Power theft not only results in revenue loss, but is also a major factor behind trippings and local power breakdown. While this week has been dedicated specifically to inspections to gain momentum in enforcement activities, inspections in routine manner will continue afterwards as well. Besides, he also asked the public not to indulge in any act of power pilferage as strict action as mandated under rules will be initiated against those resorting to such illegal practices. Since the Department is heading towards installing pre-paid/ smart electricity meters, he also advised public to clear their electricity dues immediately in advance”.

Further the field officials revealed that 8 inspection squads headed by Er. Vivek Gupta, Assistant Ex. Engineer, Sub-Division, Canal, along with Sanjeev Hans, T.P. Singh, Junior Engineers and other field staff, conducted a total of 287 inspections in Poonch House, Tirath Nagar, Hazuri Bagh, Sunder Nagar, Bakshi Nagar, Bohri, Nitco Lane, Bhagwati Nagar & adjoining areas, thereby reprimanding 56 illegal connections.

Likewise, 272 simultaneous raids were conducted in Paloura, Bantalab, Thather, Durga Nagar & adjoining areas, by 6 inspection squads headed by Er. Ashish Badyal, Assistant Ex. Engineer, Sub-Division, Janipurwith Rupesh Pandita, Davinder Singh, Ankush Sharma, Vandana Manhas, Pawan Sharma, Rakesh Lochan, Junior Engineers, which booked39 Nos power defaultersunder relevant Section of State Electricity Act. Besides, power supply to a number of IllegalJhuggies/ Temporary Hutments was disconnected while also seizing cooking heaters and other heavy load consuming devices running illegally.In addition to Jammu town, 66inspections were conducted in Akhnoor town by a team lead by Er. S.S. Manhas, Assistant Ex. Engineer, Sub-Division Akhnoor along with Malkit Singh, J.E and other field staff, which detected 6 cases of power irregularities.

Meanwhile, a cluster of ten houses in Pooja Colony were drawing power illegally by direct hooking from LT line. The entire LT line was removed and the said houses were lurked to bear the summer blaze till they get their connections regularized by paying the due penal amount imposed on them.

The details of aforesaid inspections have been referred to the concerned IT and Billing Centres of respective Sub-Divisions for exact assessment of the penal amount to be imposed on the power defaulters as per Electricity Rules and tariff in vogue.