Special police stations to curb power thefts

VADODARA: Setting up of special police stations in Rajkot, Surat, Bhavnagar, Mehsana and Vadodara zones of the Gujarat Electricity Board (GEB) by May-end would help in effectively curbing power thefts, said director of safety and chief vigilance officer Gurudayal Singh here on Wednesday.
After a gap of more than two years, the Gujarat government is convinced of approving this proposal.There is increase in the number of attacks on the GEB''s raiding teams and the figure of power thefts is going up affecting the financial position of the board.
The GEB''s proposal before the government is in regard to empowering its staff with police powers as is in the case of prohibition, water and other government departments which are enjoying this power under the Bombay Police Act.
Electricity being the key sector, the pace of development in all other sectors depends on the level of power supply. The law and order problem has considerably increased on account of economic growth resulting into unrest not only on demand and supply of power but also on unauthorisedly taking electric connections.
After a number of incidents of attacks and manhandling of the GEB staff and several succumbing to injuries in the past, the government thought it fit to open exclusive police stations in these zones.
The joint action committee of the GEB employees unions had launched agitations for this in the past.
Power thefts worth Rs 190 crore were reported in 2001. Over the years, this figure kept increasing due to absence of effective action. Till now, police personnel of the rank of special inspector-general of police and additional director-general of police were being sent to the GEB on deputation to look after power thefts and and security issues. Even in all the five zones of the GEB, police staff on deputation were ineffective as they did not enjoy police power.They had to approach concerened police stations for lodging complaints.
The appointment of about 300 members of the Gujarat police to these exclusive police stations will help in improving the law and order situation , registration of complaints and filing of chargesheets under various acts.