BYPL deploys CISF to check power theft

New Delhi, Aug 1 (UNI) Power thefts in Delhi may soon become a thing of the past with a battalion of Central Industrial Security force (CISF) today taking up the task of bringing to book anyone found indulging in the crime.

A company of 114 CISF personnel was today deployed by the BSES Yamuna Power Limited to assist BYPL enforcement teams in their drive against power theft in Central and East Delhi areas.

Under the CISF act, the personnel have the mandate to take the accused into custody without a warrant and hand them over to the police for further action.

Present at the function to usher in the first CISF company were Delhi Power Minister Haroon Yousuf, Principal Secretary (power) Rakesh Mehta and Inspector General of the CISF S P Singh.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Rakesh Mehta said,''the CISF personnel will work in tandem with the Delhi police.'' He expressed the hope that the CISF personnel would take up their latest challenge in the same stride ''as they have always been doing''.

''Deployment of CISF for controlling power theft in Delhi is a milestone. I am sure the induction of CISF will help eliminate the menace of power theft in Delhi,''Delhi Power Minister Haroon Yousuf said.

The deployment of CISF at the BYPL makes it the first company to get the services of the personnel for checking the menace.

''We are grateful that tyhe first company of the CISF has been deployed at the BYPL. In the last four years, BYPL has greatly reduced Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT and C) losses in its area - from over 63 per cent in July 2002, they have now been brought down to around 43 per cent - a reduction of 20 per cent. We are confident that the presence of CISF personnel will further aid BYPL's efforts to reduce power theft in the area,''BYPL CEO Arun Kanchan said.

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