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| The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by energy minister S N Patro here yesterday and is relevant in the context of high transmission and distribution (T&D) in the state which hover around 42 per cent.
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| The move is modelled on anti-power theft drive of Karnataka and follows the recent central legislation -Electricity Act-2003 - that has made power theft a cognigible offence.
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| The special courts, consisting of a single judge, will be set up at Cuttack, Khurda, Berhampur, Jeypore, Sambalpur, Rourkela, Balasore and Bhadrak.
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| While the government will bear all expenses for constitution and maintenance of the special courts, the four distribution companies (distcos) will fund establishment of the new police stations and police outposts.
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| The minister said districts like Boudh, Deogarh, Malkangiri, Nuapada, Gajapati, Nowrangpur and Sonepur districts will have police outposts because of low density of population while the remaining 23 districts will have one police station each.
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| A five-member team, comprising chairman cum managing director of Gridco, chief executive officer of Cesco, joint secretary, energy, and two officials of BSES-managed distribution companies will shortly visit Bangalore to study the electricity-dedicated police stations set up there. The team would submit a report on its return.
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| The police stations and outposts would function under the home department, which would provide requisite manpower and equipment.
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| The minister said the special courts and police stations are expected to considerably reduce power theft.
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| "The decision was taken not to harass the people but to change their mindset," he maintained.
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| Besides, the government is working on system improvement to bring down the T&D loss. A total of Rs 600 crore is being spent through the four distcos under the Accelerated Power Development and Reform Programme of the Centre on system improvement, the minister said.
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| The meeting also decided to notify enforcement of section 135 to 152 (B) of the Electricity Act-2003, which deal with offence and penalties for power theft, theft of wires and equipment, purchase of theft items, meter tampering and unnecessary wastage of electricity.
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| The remaining provisions of the Act would be notified within six months. Under the new legislation, theft of electricity could attract up to five years of imprisonment and Rs 10,000 fine. |
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