CHANDIGARH: The power theft in Punjab has assumed alarming proportions as it continues to increase every year despite domestic consumers being given free power and now this has touched Rs.2600 crores. In lieu of free 300 units power the Punjab government gives a subsidy of over 6000 crores and another 1400 crores for Rs.2.50 rebate for domestic consumers up to 7 KW load during 2023-24..
Out of Rs.2600 crores power theft in a year , there are 20 notorious theft prone divisions of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) in border, west and south zones which owe half the amount around Rs. 1300 crores.
Out of top 20 notorious theft prone divisions of PSPCL the maximum power theft occurs in the border zone followed by west zone, and south zone respectively. Tarn Taran circle with 4 divisions and Ferozpur circle , Suburban Amritsar , and Sangrur circle with three divisions each are amongst major theft prone areas.
As per revenue loss due to power theft, Bhikhiwind, Patti, and Zira divisions each crossed 110 crores amount followed by West Amritsar with 92 crore amount.Total revenue loss from these four divisions is around 435 crores.
The number of PSPCL divisions having distribution losses of more than 50% are 6 for rural areas . The top four divisions with less billing are Bhikhiwind has 73.32% , Patti 65.02% Zira 64.9% and West Amritsar 62.96%.In top 20 theft prone divisions of PSPCL , rural areas revenue losses are around Rs.900 crores and for urban areas these are Rs.400 crores. As far as urban areas are concerned, the top four divisions are Patti, Ajnala, Bhagta Bhai and West Amritsar. There are 14 divisions where annual revenue loss is between 56 crores to 113 crores.
V K Gupta a retired engineer has attributed that the main reason for revenue losses under these divisions is huge power theft in politically sensitive areas. Most of these divisions fall under the border belt which is the epicentre of power theft.
The Punjab government registered 296 FIRs at anti-power theft police stations across the state in August this year.
The Punjab government has emphasized the urgent need to ramp up efforts against the malice of power theft, which he identified as a major threat to the financial stability and operational efficiency of the PSPCL.