Power theft in crores is bleeding state’s economy; PSEBEA urges finance minister to ramp up efforts against electricity theft
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ October 2,2024
The PSEB Engineers’ Association (PSEBEA), in a meeting held on 1st October 2024 with Harpal Singh Cheema, Finance Minister, Government of Punjab, discussed several key issues concerning power.
During the meeting Harpal Cheema, Finance Minister 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 power sector. He stated that every year electricity worth 2600 Cr is stolen. He described power theft as not only an economic burden but also a menace that undermines the overall functioning of the state’s energy system. The Minister stressed the importance of strong measures to curb this illegal activity and assured the Association’s delegation that the government stands firmly behind their efforts. He reiterated that combating power theft is a responsibility, and the government is ready to provide all necessary resources and support to the engineers in curbing this menace.
Er JS Dhiman, President of the Association, expressed appreciation for the government’s commitment and support. He acknowledged that addressing electricity theft is a top priority for the power sector engineers, as it directly impacts the reliability and financial sustainability of the power sector. The president assured the Minister that engineers are working diligently to detect and prevent electricity theft, but will further intensify their efforts in light of the government’s backing. The Association believes that with combined efforts from both the engineers and the government, significant progress can be made in safeguarding the state’s energy resources.
Power theft in crores is bleeding state’s economy; PSEBEA urges finance minister to ramp up efforts against electricity theft. Er. Dhiman expressed concerns about the frequent gheraos and dharnas that power engineers are facing on a daily basis during anti power thefts drives.
He urged the government to support power engineers to address these challenges and also called for strict action to curb the support some higher ups are extending to consumers involved in power theft, which further exacerbates the issue. Harpal Singh Cheema, Finance Minister, assured the Association of the government’s full cooperation in addressing these concerns, promising that the government will take necessary steps to support and resolve the issues faced by power engineers.
