Bombay high court asks suggestions to prevent power thefts

The Bombay high court on Monday asked power distribution companies, police and the BMC to hold a meeting and come up with suggestions as to how the power thefts can be prevented especially during the Ganpati festival.

A division bench of justices P V Hardas and Anuja Prabhudessai, was hearing a PIL filed by former journalist Ketan Tirodkar, alleging that power is stolen during the Ganpati festival, Navratri and Diwali every year, resulting in loss of revenue.

The judges have asked the representatives of the two major power distribution companies, Bombay Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking and Reliance Infrastructure, BMC, police and Tirodkar himself should meet and come up with suggestions on Tuesday, so that it can pass an order on August 13.

According to Tirodkar, the mandals, which organise Ganesh festival or Navratri celebrations collect huge donations, but they are still given heavy concessions in power bills.

Besides, many mandals simply rig up supply from power poles on the streets, without paying anything.

According to police, since 2005, 10 cases of power theft were registered at the MRA Marg police station alone, and in all of them, charge sheets were filed.