The Hindu : New Delhi News : CISF to help curb power theft

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Sunday, May 20, 2007
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New Delhi

CISF to help curb power theft

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: High Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses having become a cause for concern for the Delhi Government's Power Department, it is now hoping that deployment of the Central Industrial Security Force will help in curbing power theft.

The AT&C losses at the national level are estimated at Rs. 20,000 crore per year and the State Government is hopeful that CISF's assistance will bring the losses down to 15 per cent.

This weekend, at the induction ceremony of CISF personnel who will be attached to North Delhi Power Limited (NDPL) and BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) in the Capital, Power Department officials said the discoms' employees were often at the receiving end of assaults by consumers who steal power.

The numerous instances of consumers indulging in theft of electricity assaulting the enforcement teams of discoms paved the way for CISF being roped in to help in checking electricity pilferage.

The discoms had requested the Delhi Government to make arrangements for a dedicated police force as the Delhi police were unable to provide a dedicated strength.

Three CISF companies

The Union Government has agreed to place three companies of CISF, one each for each discom, at the disposal of the Power Department for providing security to the discoms' officials while carrying out anti-power theft raids and inspections.

While the first batch of CISF personnel was deployed at BSES Yamuna Power Limited in 2006, BRPL and NDPL areas were officially sanctioned the special force here over the weekend.

A CISF company deputed by the Government comprising 114 personnel will be working along with the Delhi police and help the NDPL and BRPL authorities in their drive against theft of electricity in their distribution network.

NDPL Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Sunil Wadhwa said: "I am confident that we will succeed in bringing down the AT&C loss levels even further with their support. The reduction of AT&C losses from 53 per cent to 24 per cent since July 2002 has been an uphill task... there have been instances when our teams have faced assault, stone pelting and other forms of organised resistance. We are hopeful that CISF will be able to provide our teams with that much needed security and diffuse such volatile situations should they arise." Delhi Chief Secretary R. Narayanaswami was the chief guest on the occasion.

Also present on the occasion were Principal Secretary (Power) Rakesh Mehta and CISF Inspector-General S. P. Singh.

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