PSEB chief to monitor power theft drive
Umesh Dewan
Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 4
With a view to further intensifying its drive against power theft and making its officials accountable, Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) chairman HS Brar has decided to monitor the power theft drive himself.

Sources of the Punjab State Electricity Board have confirmed that from now on, the Annual Confidential Reports (ACR) of the board officials would have a special mention about the performance of the officers concerned, with regard to the targets assigned and achieved by them.

The chairman told the staff that he would firmly stand behind them, in case anyone tries to put “pressure” on them to adopt a soft approach towards those indulging in power theft.

The sources added that Brar had decided to take the command in his direct control and he himself would be reviewing the progress of the action being taken against those involved in power theft.

When contacted, Punjab State Electricity Board chairman confirmed the developments and said power theft puts an unnecessary load on the grid besides causing huge financial loss to the board.

“Besides making the officials accountable, we would also ensure that no PSEB official faces any problem for detecting the power theft cases,” Brar said.

Notably, some board employees were found to be hand in glove with the defaulters. “Following the directions of the board chairman, senior officials have been deputed to keep a check on the field officers and ensure that they are not involved with the defaulters,” senior officials of the Board said.

One of the officials, on condition of anonymity, said following a meeting with the chairman, the Chief Systems Operation and Member Distribution had been asked to identify the clusters witnessing power theft.

“After assessing the transmission and losses of these clusters, the loses incurred to the board would be calculated. Subsequently, raids by the PSEB would be a regular feature in these clusters,” a senior official said.

Since June 2009, the PSEB had imposed fines worth Rs 130 crore on the power theft defaulters across the state. And penalty of Rs 16 crore was slapped on the defaulters in the last two months.