Powermen in saffron to catch thieves red-handed

VARANASI: Employees of Poorvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited will be wearing saffron jackets as during the ongoing statewide drive against power pilferage. Also, close circuit television cameras would be installed at all power substation and billing offices.
Addressing a joint press conference, PVVNL’s managing director Kajal and district magistrate Pranjal Yadav said on Wednesday that the jackets will be distributed in a day or two.
Regarding rising protest against compulsory installation of meters outside houses, shops and other buildings, Kajal said consumers will not be penalised or charged extra money in the case meters are damaged and those will be replaced free. Consumers will only have to pay 25% of the assessed tariff after giving written declaration, she added.
About objections against power pilferage cases being overlooked in Muslim dominated localities, the DM made it very clear that surprise raids would be conducted in all localities after January 17 and that he would lead the teams personally. The officials said the department is committed to bringing down line loss from 31% to below 15% in Varanasi district.
Kajal said the corporation has taken stock of complaints of subletting of power by retired power-officials and employees in some localities as well as pilferage by officials and employees of other government departments. She said all these persons will face stern action. They said all sub-stations will be covered with centrally monitored CCTV network to end the menace of touts involved in misleading innocent consumers and causing loss to the department by forming nexus with some department staff.