Haryana turns the heat on power thieves, to recover Rs 8.2k cr

Chandigarh: The Haryana govt has launched an aggressive campaign to recover ₹8,200 crore in unpaid electricity bills, warning defaulters that their homes and lands will be seized if debts are not settled within 15 days.In an unprecedented move, state energy utilities will leverage the Land Recovery Act to attach the immovable properties of consumers whose connections have been disconnected permanently, effectively treating power arrears as land revenue tax defaults. State's energy minister, Anil Vij, announced on Monday that notices would be issued to all major defaulters.Those who fail to pay within the 11th-hour window will face civil recovery proceedings, including the auctioning of their properties. "Officials have instructions to complete the recovery process within the stipulated timeframe without any laxity," Vij said, noting that govt departments will coordinate to expedite the sweep.The recovery drive also targets electricity theft. Consumers caught in illegal tapping schemes will be given "one final opportunity" to settle outstanding fines and dues under the same Land Recovery Act provisions before facing criminal and civil property forfeiture.Summer Grid StabilityAs the region enters the peak summer season, the ministry has introduced a "zero-tolerance" policy for power disruptions. Faulty transformers must now be replaced within two hours in urban areas and four hours in rural sectors. Mobile transformer trolleys have been stationed at every subdivision to bypass local grid failures. Crews are under orders to prune trees near 11 kV and 33 kV feeders to prevent outages during seasonal storms.Safety and Solar GoalsBeyond debt recovery, minister Anil Vij emphasised a shift toward modernisation and safety. All technical staff must now wear mandatory safety kits, with daily supply data being fed directly to the minister's office via a new online monitoring system. On the renewable front, Haryana is accelerating its participation in the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, setting a target to transition 220,000 households to solar power by March 2027. Department heads chase monthly quotas to ensure the state meets its green energy deadlines.MSID:: 130393242 413 |
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