NDMC snaps power to slum clusters

NEW DELHI: In a crackdown against power theft in its area, the NDMC has decided to sever the connections of all those tapping electricity illegally. The move follows the financial report on power transmission and distribution (T&D) that the civic agency has submitted with the DERC for the first time.
The power connections of seven slum clusters and all tehbazari licence holders have been cut.Sources say this could be an attempt by NDMC to project itself as an efficient agency. Reliance had recently made a bid for distributing power in NDMC areas.
So far, the civic agency has been distributing power in its own jurisdiction and has one of the best records in the country as far as controlling T&D losses is concerned.
The NDMC registers T&D losses of about 16 per cent, which is much lower than those being experienced in rest of the city.
"NDMC has to look more competent with private players pitching in," the source said. NDMC areas traditionally have a lower rate of power theft as compared to other parts of the city and are being eyed by the private firm as a lucrative base.
The NDMC top brass, however, is trying to explain away the decision as a measure to to introduce fire-safety norms following instructions from the Delhi government after the Kirti Nagar fire.
Apart from tehbazari licence holders who are illegally drawing electricity, the civic agency has also pulled the plug on seven slum clusters in its jurisdiction. "We have asked all tehbazari licence holders to use petromax lamps. Similarly, power connections in slums have been discontinued," said an official.