Bhubaneswar, Aug 22: As decided by the Odisha government, 34 electricity police stations which were set up to curb power theft in the State will be abolished, following refusal of the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) to grant permission for them.
There has not been any impact on power theft after the setting up electricity police stations and so the specialized police stations have become dysfunctional. Also the DISCOMS were unnecessarily bearing the cost of the wages of the staff and operating cost. Whereas, it’s the responsibility of the company to take care of the power supply services instead of handing it over to the franchisees, as stated by the electricity consumer’s association. Bipin Bihari Mishra, former DGP said that the general police stations should be provide with additional wireless sets and CCTV cameras so that they can tap the power theft well.
Sources informed that till March next year, the electricity police stations and general police stations would accept complaints on power theft. Subsequently, the electricity police station will be abolished.
