The Maharashtra Cabinet meeting today is expected to revolve around power sector reforms, with a decision on formulating a anti-power theft law as well as discussing the white paper on energy reforms scheduled for discussions.
According to a source, amendments to the criminal procedure code (CrPC) to make electricity theft a cognizable offence will be taken up for discussion. The proposal before the Cabinet seeks to not only make this offence punishable under law but also initiate similar criminal proceedings against the circle inspector of the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) under whose jurisdiction the power theft comes to light.
MSEB, through a sample survey of 200 meters, had established that around 18 per cent of the power generated in the state was lost due to transmission and distribution (T&D) losses that include power theft.
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However, a subsequent survey order by erstwhile MSEB chairman Vinay Bansal taking a larger sample of 1,500 meters was able to establish that the power lost due to transmission and distribution anomalies along with theft ranged over 40 per cent of the total power generated.
Actual losses are believed to be much higher as has been found out in states where 100 per cent metering has been enforced where fifty per cent of the power is found to be lost.
The white paper on reforms to be undertaken in the power sector in Maharashtra, that was earlier scheduled to be submitted to the state government by June 30, will finally be discussed on Wednesday with a likelihood of it being cleared, given the government's stated stand on the issue and the recommendations of the Madhav Godbole-headed committee on energy reforms.