The state-run power company in Chhattisgarh is mulling a proposal to disconnect electricity supply in the locality where complaint of power theft is more. The Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company, which was formed after the unbundling of the state electricity board, is reeling under the problem of power theft. The company is incurring a huge loss running into crores of rupees because of power theft in various localities across the state.
In the slums and illegal colonies, power theft is becoming a major problem for the company to cope with. This is increasing the load on the transformers. "The company is considering a proposal to disconnect electricity in the locality where people are involved in power theft," Chairman of Chhattisgarh State Power Holding Company V K Shrivastava said. If the proposal takes shape, it will be in line with the move taken up by Madhya Pradesh government to check power theft. Shrivastava said the company was taking necessary steps to check power theft in the state. Besides lodging complaint with police, the company was imposing heavy penalty on the persons involved in power theft.
Sources in the company said that the electricity line loss of the distribution company had been gradually increasing over the years due to increasing power theft. While the electricity line loss was 35 per cent in 2008-09, it had increased to 39 per cent in 2009-10.