UP minister conducts raid against power thieves

Varanasi, June 11 (UNI) In line with Mayawati government's resolve of acting decisively against those indulging in the menace of power theft, Uttar Pradesh Power Minister Ramveer Upadhyaya this evening raided a cooking oil unit here.

The UP minister led a team of power officials in conducting the surprise raid in Ashapur area near the Buddhist pilgrimage of Sarnath.

It was found the unit was drawing 630 kilowatt of electricity through two illegally installed transformers against a sanctioned capacity of 200 kilowatts.

The raid was underway at the time of filing the report.

''I will myself conduct surprise raid across the state from now and those caught indulging in power theft will not be spared,'' he maintained.

Hopes of the world famous tourist city, however, of getting round the clock electricity, suffered a major jolt with the minister making it clear that only an end to power thefts could ensure 24-hour electricity to Varanasi.

''Elimination of power pilferage is a top priority for the Mayawati government and we are going to work with an iron hand on this count,'' Mr Upadhyaya said, while giving a month time to the officials of Purvanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Limited to act decisively.

He charged ''the power department was in its worst state owing to the faulty policies of the erstwhile Samajwadi Party government, which has not even settled the dues of those providing coal to thermal power plants.

The BSP government is committed to bringing a sea change in the awful condition of electric supply in the state, but for that, the public will have to cooperate with the government in the implementation of harsh decisions, especially on the front of power thefts.'' MORE UNI