Govind Sharma
JAMMU, July 24: In a special drive, the Power Development Department (PDD) has lodged near 600 FIRs against those indulging in power thefts and a fine of nearly Rs one crore has been imposed on defaulters so far. Moreover, over 600 power connections have been regularized and 277 illegal ones disconnected during a short span of time.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that keeping in view the alarming level of power theft across the State, the Government recently decided to involve civil and police administration in all the districts to tighten noose around those indulging in power theft. Even Deputy Commissioners were asked to constitute teams and fix targets so that the menace is checked.
Within a small period of time a remarkable progress has been achieved, which can be gauged from the official figures. There are about 12 divisions of PDD in Jammu province— ED-I, II and III in Jammu, ED Vijaypur, ED Kathua, ED Poonch, ED Rajouri, ED Udhampur, ED Reasi, ED Batote, ED Kishtwar and ED Doda.
Till date about 9621 inspections have been conducted by the department with the assistance of concerned district administration across these 12 divisions and during the course 593 FIRs have been lodged by the police on the requests of PDD against the defaulters and a record Rs 96, 32, 195 fine has been realized from those indulging in power theft in one way or other.
The highest 1627 inspections have been conducted in ED-III Jammu where 302 FIRs have been registered against defaulters, followed by 1613 in ED-II Jammu where 180 FIRs have been lodged and 1498 in ED-I Jammu where 96 FIRs have been registered against defaulters.
As per the figures, the highest Rs 34,59,578 fine has been imposed on the defaulters in ED-III Jammu, followed by Rs 29,12,000 in ED-I and Rs 15,95,131 in ED-II Jammu. Rs 10, 25, 624 fine has also been imposed on defaulters in ED Rajouri. However, out of the total Rs 96, 32, 195 fine imposed in all divisions, only Rs 2, 11, 753 fine has been recovered so far from the defaulters.
“The department is in the process of recovering the remaining fine”, said Sanjay Sharma, Nodal Officer for the special drive, who has been assigned the task of coordinating with administration in all the districts and police. He has also been asked to furnish details of progress made in the special drive to the Government on day to day basis.
“During the course of inspections, a total of 633 connections have been regularized so far and out of these highest 251 connections have been regularized in ED Rajouri, 168 in ED II Jammu and 107 in ED Poonch.”, the official figures revealed.
Moreover, total 277 illegal power connections have been disconnected during the inspections. The highest 138 illegal connections have been disconnected in ED II Jammu, followed by 86 in ED I Jammu and 31 in ED Vijaypur.
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