Anti-theft teams continues opposition from locals, 16 FIR in past two days

BAREILLY: Under the ‘vidyutchori rokoabhiyan’ (drive against power theft), power department officials fanned out in several localities in the city on Thursday to check meters. More than 16 FIRs were lodged at various police stations of the city against locals who refused to pay compounding interest and pending arrears.
According to reports, 186 meters were replaced by power officials after they detected shunts and many other discrepancies in electricity meters of consumers, under various localities in city on Wednesday and Thursday.
Anti-theft team members reportedly had heated argument with locals on several occasions. Situation remained under control with timely intervention of cops in Phoota Darwaja, Garahiya and others under Quila Police station.
However, to avoid any clashes with locals, anti-theft members later preferred to open electricity meters in police protection in sensitive areas. More than 107 meters were disconnected for regular connection after consumers were unable to pay arrears, compounding interest and others. So far, the team has disconnected over 2,177 regular electricity meters owing to pending dues, while 2,651 meters were replaced by the team in Bareilly district.
While power department had focused on collection of pending arrears, department also distributed as many as 2,082 new connections in Bareilly district so far, said a power official. He added, “Around 225 FIRs have been lodged against consumers involved in power theft who were unable to pay compounding interest on spot while 1,237 consumers had opted for one time settlement (OTS) scheme of power department.”
Talking to TOI, superintendent engineer (Urban) N K Srivastava said, “Power department has raised more than Rs 3.92 crore jointly from all three Electricity Urban Distribution Division (EUDD) circles so far and hope that the tally will improve in the coming days.”