Power theft rampant, Bescom can do little to prevent it

Power theft rampant, Bescom can do little to prevent it
Thursday November 22 2007 09:54 IST


BANGALORE: Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) seems to de suffering huge loss due to power theft as there had been a drastic increase in the number of power theft cases registered by the Bescom vigilance squad.

It was 7,839 cases during 2003-2004, which has increased to 14,562 in the first six months of this financial year.

However, Bescom officials said that there are more number of theft cases which go unnoticed. According to C N Bhandare, Superintendent of Police, Vigilance Bescom, power theft cases are booked under Indian Electricity Act, Section 135.

“Punishment varies from three months to three years of rigorous imprisonment with or without penalty,” he said.

He said that a second offence is non-bailable. There are many instances where people have started providing Paying Guest accommodation in their houses, which the department considers as power theft.

“We have raided more than 25 houses in slum areas,” Bhandare told this paper.

The Fast Track court has given conviction in eight cases and 13 people have been convicted in the past one year.

“The rate of case disposal has increased,” he added. The Vigilance department too faces staff shortage. At present, there are 11 Bescom police stations, which include four in Bangalore one each at Davanagere, Chitradurga, Kolar and Tumkur. But for districts like Kolar, there is no Bescom police station.