26,899 power theft cases totalling Rs 51 cr detected in Haryana

Chandigarh, March 16 (PTI): Accelerating the campaign to curb electricity thefts in Haryana, the power utilities have detected 26,899 such cases involving an amount of 51.65 crore in the state in January and February.

Of the total, Rs 16.75 crore has been recovered from defaulters, officials said. The Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) had detected 13,855 cases of electricity theft to the tune of over Rs 29.26 crore, of which Rs 11.82 crore has been recovered, a spokesman of the utilities said here today.

He said similarly, the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) had detected 13,044 cases of electricity theft to the tune of over Rs 22.39 crore, of which Rs 4.93 crore has been recovered. He said UHBVN had detected maximum number of cases of electricity theft, 2,123, in Kaithal circle, where fines to the tune of Rs 3.70 crore were imposed.

Among other places, in Karnal circle, 2,019 cases were detected, wherein fines to the tune of Rs 3.80 crore were imposed, he said. The spokesman said the maximum number of these cases related to tampering of meter, meter bypass and ‘kundi’ (illegal) connections.