CISF services to be used to curb power thefts: Rakesh Mehta

New Delhi, July 5 (UNI) Delhi government will seek help of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to curb power thefts in the capital which today stands at 20-24 per cent.

Principal power secretary of the Delhi Government Rakesh Mehta told media persons here that the Delhi Government has asked the Centre to lend it three to four companies of the CISF to help it check power thefts.

Mr Mehta said one company of the CISF would be available as early as this week.

He said though after the privatisation of the power distribution in Delhi, theft had decreased from 54 per cent to 22-24 per cent, it still remained a major cause of concern for the state government considering that the capital was facing acute shortage of power, with several areas experiencing loadshedding.

Earlier, speaking after inauguration of the energy efficiency and renewal energy management centre of the Delhi Transco Limited by Delhi power minister Haroon Yousuf, Mr Mehta said promotion of efficient use of energy was part of joint efforts by the Delhi Government and Delhi Transco Limited to deal with the severe power crunch currently being faced by the Delhi.

Over the last one year, the peak deficit in Delhi has risen to 350 MW. One of the ways to meet this deficit was efficient use of energy, an objective which was sought to be achieved by the centre, Mr Mehta said.

Speaking to mediapersons, Delhi power minister Haroon Yousuf said promoting the efficient use of energy was one of the steps to help Delhi meet its ever increasing power needs through its own resources.

Currently, Delhi was dependent on the Northern Grid as well as other states for its power needs. Though the government, keeping in view the increased power requirements of the state in the near future, has undertaken several steps like announcing setting up of a designated 2000 MW Power Plant for Delhi at Chhattisgarh with an estimated cost of Rs 10,000 crore, there was also a need to promote energy efficiency as in times of crunch. He said even 300-400 MW saved through efficient energy use could prove crucial.

Infact, he said the potential of energy saving through the setting up of the energy management centre was as much as 25-30 per cent.

More UNI AR CS BD1547