JBVNL unearths power theft at mini steel plant unit

A raid team of Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd (JBVNL) officials exposed power theft continuing at a mini-steel plant unit in Adityapur industrial area in the wee hours on Sunday.

According to information, management of the mini-steel plant, Shree Krishna Laxmi Udyog Pvt Ltd, which is based on induction furnace and located in the phase VI in the industrial area, was stealing power by hooking during nights.

Led by superintending engineer of Jamshedpur circle of the discom Manmohan Kumar, the raiding team also slapped a penalty of Rs 3.93 crores on Shree Krishna Laxmi Udyog Pvt Ltd. 

The JBVNL has also registered a case against the management of the mini-steel plant on the basis of an FIR lodged by sub-divisional officer (electrical) Namnit Kumar.

Kumar said that acting on a tip off the team started the raid at 11 pm on Saturday and continued it till 6 am today. "We were surprised during the raid that power was being tapped by means of hooking from a feeder to Shree Krishna Laxmi Udyog Pvt Ltd. It was a feeder not connected to the mini-steel plant as the management of the company was tapping the power from another feeder that exists adjoining to the feeder connected to the company," said the SDO (electrical).

He said during the raid they found production in the Shree Krishna Laxmi Udyog was on, but the meter was not running.  He carried out a thorough enquiry that led the raiding team to the point from where the electricity was being drawn from a 33 KV power line of another feeder.

"We have been receiving complaints about the theft and we were shocked to see during the raid that there was no match between the actual extent of power drawn to the mini-steel plant and the extent of power consumption shown on the metering unit. 

Then after investigation we found that there was a hole behind the cover of the metering unit,” said an official.

Officials said that due to large scale power theft and tampering of meter bills it is essential to take strict actions otherwise the present scenario would only get worst. "We are playing the role of facilitator similar to trading commodities to the public and when the latter fails to reciprocate in the true sense and instead resorts to pilferage possibility of sustaining regular power supply to the consumers is very remote," conceded an officer.

“The rampant power thefts, tampering of meters and long pending dues of industries are a matter of great concern.

Though I welcome stern steps to check all forms of malpractices but the corporate consumers should also be targeted. Several power bill defaulters had been resorting to illegal re-connection even after their lines were snapped. Surprise drive at night must soon be undertaken to detect such unauthorised connections,” noted an official of Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry.