HYDERABAD: About 30,000 residents of Alkapoor Township in Manikonda have been faced with continuous voltage drop in the evening hours for over two weeks now, allegedly due to power theft from the main electric line that leads to the township.
“The power fluctuation has been bothering all of us, mostly during the evening. Electric appliances dependent on continuous power supply are getting damaged due to the fluctuation,” said MS Manoj Kumar, secretary of Alkapoor Township Residents’ Welfare Association.
The power theft is allegedly being committed by people who have erected make-shift tents on vacant plots in the 300-acre township. Various pictures were posted on social media showing loop connections being made from a main electric wire with the aid of a bamboo.
“Those involved in the theft are daily-wage labourers. When we received the first complaint, we warned the violators and removed those illegal connections. A few cases were also slapped on them,” an official said requesting anonymity. “In a majority of these cases, we cannot take serious action because the persons involved are economically weak and cannot pay huge fines,” he reasoned.
However, local police observe that the builders or owners of vacant plots in the area are the ones who erect tents and hire these workers, for the purpose of safeguarding their property.
500 cases every month
Power theft has become a recurring problem in the Rangareddy zone (South) under the Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSSPDCL) jurisdiction. The department is booking more than 500 cases of power theft under the Electricity Act, 2003.
“Most of the cases involve labourers staying in make-shift tents. We calculate the bills and then ask them to pay for it,” said a vigilance officer.