Ten days back, the power company officials sealed the boxes on Kondivita and Kadamwadi Road (Andheri East) with nylon straps and plastic shrink wrap, in spite of being threatened by locals for doing it.
An activist from Andheri, who has been fighting against theft of electricity from street light poles by various Ganeshotsav organisers for years, has finally tasted success. Reliance Energy, following his complaints right from the start of Ganesh Chaturthi, has begun a pilot project of sealing the junction boxes completely.
Ten days back, the power company officials sealed the boxes on Kondivita and Kadamwadi Road (Andheri East) with nylon straps and plastic shrink wrap, in spite of being threatened by locals for doing it.
"I had been finding an increasing number of junction boxes broken open; so, I complained again. Reliance Energy then decided to start a pilot project of sorts... its staff sealed the boxes with straps and plastic wrap. But some miscreants cut that open as well. They then enclosed one box being opened repeatedly in metal casing," said Ashok Pai, the activist and a Marol resident.
"Stealing of electricity from these boxes is particularly common during Ganeshotsav, to light up advertising hoardings as well as pandals. It's also seen during Navratri and Durga Puja. In spite of repeated complaints to the civic body and the police, nothing has been done."
Pai added that he started a fight against electricity theft as, ultimately, citizens like him were bearing the brunt of it. He has been urging all citizen associations as well as ALMs to start demanding that junction boxes be sealed, which, he said, will not only ensure that electricity is not stolen during festivals, but also stop hawkers from using it illegally.
"It's sad thing that electricity is stolen right from under the nose of all authorities, including the police... they just let it happen. I have even been writing to the commissioner of police and the municipal corporation to take stringent action against any festival organiser found stealing electricity, but in vain," said Pai.
Commenting on the issue, a Reliance Energy spokesperson said, "We have started sealing electricity junction boxes on a pilot basis in Andheri East, keeping safety of people and stopping unwarranted access to the distribution system as the topmost priorities."
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