Curb pilfering of electricity during festivals: PIL
RELATED
MUMBAI: A PIL has urged the Bombay high court
to direct a special cell, which was formed to detect and prevent power
theft, to carry out physical checks at Ganpati and Navratri mandals.
Ganeshotsav commences on September 9. The petition filed by activist Ketan Tirodkar states that there is an "increasing trend" by mandals to instal parallel connections hijacked from "meters and poles" to satisfy the high-utility requirement of decoration and lighting. "The public bodies organizing Ganeshotsav and Navratri hijack power from electric poles, residential and commercial connections over and above the temporary supply granted to them for the festival," it states. It added, "Private consumers—residential and commercial—get hefty bills in many areas on account of such theft during post-festival periods."
The petition states that there is no physical check carried out by the energy department's vigilance cell and its wings such as BEST and MSEB during the festivals so as not to "hurt" public sentiments. The transport undertaking and the state electricity board suffer distribution losses to the tune of 15% overall and up to 50% in some pockets during the festive season, the petition states. "Theft of electricity is one of the major reasons for heavy distribution losses," it added.
Tirodkar's petition states that residents from of Parel, Lalbaug, Girgaum, Thane, Kalyan and Pune have told him that the mandals collect hefty donations and seek heavy concessions from the government for electricity usage. It states that during the hearing of a PIL in 2010 on electricity pilferage, the HC was informed that a special cell had been formed by the BEST and police to check, prevent and detect power theft in Mumbai. The petition will be heard on August 16.
Ganeshotsav commences on September 9. The petition filed by activist Ketan Tirodkar states that there is an "increasing trend" by mandals to instal parallel connections hijacked from "meters and poles" to satisfy the high-utility requirement of decoration and lighting. "The public bodies organizing Ganeshotsav and Navratri hijack power from electric poles, residential and commercial connections over and above the temporary supply granted to them for the festival," it states. It added, "Private consumers—residential and commercial—get hefty bills in many areas on account of such theft during post-festival periods."
The petition states that there is no physical check carried out by the energy department's vigilance cell and its wings such as BEST and MSEB during the festivals so as not to "hurt" public sentiments. The transport undertaking and the state electricity board suffer distribution losses to the tune of 15% overall and up to 50% in some pockets during the festive season, the petition states. "Theft of electricity is one of the major reasons for heavy distribution losses," it added.
Tirodkar's petition states that residents from of Parel, Lalbaug, Girgaum, Thane, Kalyan and Pune have told him that the mandals collect hefty donations and seek heavy concessions from the government for electricity usage. It states that during the hearing of a PIL in 2010 on electricity pilferage, the HC was informed that a special cell had been formed by the BEST and police to check, prevent and detect power theft in Mumbai. The petition will be heard on August 16.
