Turn an ‘informer’ of power theft, get rewarded

LUCKNOW: Pulling out all stops to make the drive against power theft a success, the energy department is reaching out to consumers not just through awareness campaigns but is also encouraging them to turn ‘informers’ for a good cause.
The department has appealed to the people to inform Lucknow Electricity Supply Administration (Lesa) about any type of power theft that they come to know of.The identity of the informer will be kept secret.
Besides, an informer will get paid Rs 100 for every kilowatt of stolen electricity that he brings to the notice of officials. The information can be dropped at toll free number 1800-1800-440 or conveyed to Lesa’s chief engineer at 9415901286.
“Any information that comes to us will be looked into in an hour’s time,” said chief engineer SK Verma.
Lucknow reports around 30% line losses in a year. ‘Katiya’ is the biggest and the most visible form of power theft. The anti-power theft drive has been on for barely 10 days but more than 2,500 ‘katiya’ connections have been removed from electricity poles and cables in Aminabad, BKT, Chinhat, Residency area, outskirts of Gomtinagar, Alambagh, Takrohi, Chowk, Rajajipuram, Thakurganj, Khurramnagar, Para, Vikasnagar and other localities. The menace is rampant in Old City and on the outskirts.
“In one of the localities in Old City, we removed 40 ‘katiyas’ from a pole but only 12 people came to us with their bills and payment receipts. To identify the remaining consumers, we need to track each and every connection drawn from the pole. This is a time-taking process but it will be done,” said the official.
Officials are now putting up boards on poles about the number of ‘genuine’ consumers drawing electricity from them. Any additional cable attached to the pole will be verified for ‘genuineness.
In Old City, 52 people have been caught for being involved in power theft.