Power Utilities to launch 'Consumer Awareness Campaign'

Chandigarh, Aug 3 (UNI) The Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam will launch a statewide 'Consumer Awareness Campaign' to educate people regarding efficient use of energy and the amendments made in the Electricity Act, 2003.

Giving details, Lt Gen (Retd) O S Lohchab, Chairman Haryana Power Utilities, said here today that the leaflets having detailed information about energy savers and amendments in the Act about the stringent actions against theft of power would be distributed to over 42 lakh electricity consumers along with their bills.

It had been decided to arrange a press conference at all the district headquarters in which senior officers would be present.

All India Radio Stations and Doordarshan Kendras of the state were being requested to arrange recording and broadcast or telecast the talks and interviews of the senior functionaries of the power utilities.

He said the power theft in the country was to the tune of Rs 28,000 crore per annum and the Union Government had made the provisions against the power theft very stringent. Most of the State Electricity Boards and Corporations were running in loss mainly due to pilferage of electricity and Haryana was also not an exception.

He said it would be highlighted through the leaflets that the people of Haryana who respected law were honest and hard working.

''They are required to help the Utilities in curbing the menace of pilferage of power treating it as a social evil.'' He said that the need for use of energy efficient gadgets would be emphasised in view of the fact that the state government had declared the Year 2007 as 'Save Electricity Year'.

UNI