BackCISF deployment to bring down power theft in Delhi
CISF deployment to bring down power theft in Delhi
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New Delhi: With the deployment of Central Industrial Security Force to control power theft in the whole of Delhi, the government hopes to bring down the aggregate technical and commercial losses (ATandC) to 15%, from the current level of more than 30%, which is among the highest in India.
The CISF personnel can carry arms and detain those accused of stealing electricity without warrant, before handing them over to the local police for further action.
While formally inducting a company of 114 men of the premier industrial security force to provide services to North Delhi Power Ltd, which supplies power in north and central Delhi, Rakesh Mehta, Delhiās Principal Power Secretary,said ATand C losses are coming down at the rate of 4% annually.
Later, speaking to Mint, Mehta said that while the three distribution companies will be spending Rs1-1.5 crore for the deployment of CISF personnel, they together hope to recover an additional Rs20 crore.
Highlighting the importance of bringing down power theft, Mehta said India loses Rs20,000 crore a year.
NDPL is the third distribution company in Delhi to deploy CISF to control power theft. BSES Yamuna Power Ltd, which first engaged the services of the force, saw a huge reduction in ATandC losses subsequently. Enthused by this, the Delhi government asked for deployment of CISF in the remaining two discom areas as well.
CISF was brought in to check electricity theft in south and west Delhi, where BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd supplies power, on 15 May 2007.
Speaking at the function, R. Narayanaswami, chief secretary, Delhi, said that the government is also augmenting power generation to fulfil the ever-increasing needs of the city. He said that nearly 2,000MW of additional power will be generated in the Capital from three power station which will become operational before 2010.
Narayanaswami said that the government had not fixed a target date to bring down ATandC losses to 15%, and that this could be achieved in the next 4-5 years.
While stressing the need for strong measures to stop power theft, Rakesh Mehta said ATandC losses are higher in Delhi compared to major Indian cities.
While Kolkata suffers ATandC losses of 11%, the corresponding figure for Surat is 8%. Mumbai loses nearly 12% of its power.
The global norm for ATandC losses is 7-8%, which is due to transmission, not theft. Any loss beyond this is only due to illegal tapping of power.
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