Patiala:
“Every year electricity worth Rs 2600 crore is stolen,” mentions Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema while emphasizing the urgent need to ramp up efforts against the malice of power theft.
Cheema had a meeting with The PSEB Engineers’ Association where association members discussed several key issues concerning power.
During the meeting Cheema described power theft as not only an economic burden but also a menace that undermines the overall functioning of the state’s energy system. He identified power theft as a major threat to the financial stability and operational efficiency of the power sector.
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.
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 demanded strict action to stop certain influential or high-ranking individuals who support consumers involved in power theft, which further exacerbates the issue.
Cheema 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.