The Hindu : National : Maharashtra to detect, catch power thieves

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Wednesday, Jun 01, 2005

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National

Maharashtra to detect, catch power thieves

Special Correspondent

Government plans to set up six special police stations

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Government will set up six police stations exclusively to detect and catch power thieves, said Energy Minister Dilip Walse-Patil.

The police personnel would be empowered to catch the thieves and would work with the staff of the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB). The board staff would be posted at these police stations to provide technical assistance in policing the power transmission lines.

The Minister said that two special courts would also be set up to try cases of power thefts and illegal connections.

It was yet to be decided where these police stations were to be located, Mr. Walse-Patil said.

Power thefts account for 12 per cent of the transmission and distribution (T & D) losses in Maharashtra, estimated at 35 per cent of the power generated.

Saving of even one per cent of these looses could result in a gain of Rs. 160 crores for the Board. The highest T & D losses are reported from the Parbhani circle (56 per cent) and the lowest in Kolhapur (19 per cent). The state Maharashtra is passing through a severe power crisis, being short of as much as 3000 MW, resulting in load shedding for more than nine hours daily in most of the rural areas. In the urban areas, excluding Mumbai, the load shedding exceeds four hours.

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