JBVNL Faces Massive Electricity Theft, Laments Lack of Police Support

General Manager Shravan Kumar Highlights 1200 MW Monthly Loss, Calls for Urgent Action

The Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL) is grappling with a staggering electricity theft problem, resulting in the wastage of 1200 MW of electricity every month, as revealed by General Manager Shravan Kumar during a press conference on Sunday.

JAMSHEDPUR – The rampant theft of electricity has become a major concern for JBVNL, necessitating the purchase of an additional 1000 MW of electricity to compensate for the losses incurred.

Speaking to a media outfit, Shravan Kumar, the General Manager of JBVNL, emphasized the critical role of timely police intervention in curbing this pervasive issue.

Kumar stressed the potential effectiveness of establishing electricity police stations in every district, as stipulated by the Electricity Act 2003.

However, despite the corporation’s efforts to combat theft, approximately 35 to 40 percent of line loss persists monthly, highlighting the magnitude of the problem.

He said that the establishment of electricity police stations in every district, as per the Electricity Act 2003, could be a game-changer in our fight against electricity theft. He also said that despite best efforts, the corporation finds itself unable to effectively address the issue without adequate support from law enforcement agencies.

Shravan Kumar, who also serves as the General Manager of the Jamshedpur Area Board, expressed frustration over the lack of timely support from the police administration in combating electricity theft.

He pointed out that a significant portion of the theft occurs at night through hooking, while raids primarily take place during the day, resulting in limited success.

He said that they have been consistently seeking the support of the police administration to crack down on electricity theft, especially during the night when most of the illegal activities occur.

He added that unfortunately, the lack of timely intervention has hindered our efforts to curb this menace effectively.

The staggering loss of 1200 MW of electricity every month due to theft has put JBVNL in a challenging position, as it is forced to purchase an additional 1000 MW to meet the demand.

This situation, Kumar emphasized, requires urgent attention and concerted efforts from all stakeholders, including the government and law enforcement agencies.