LAHORE: Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) teams detected power theft in 110 houses, with 100 cases reported at Green Cap Housing Scheme alone.

Other locations affected by the power theft include some hostels and an embroidery unit.

According to a company spokesperson, the teams identified that the owners of 100 houses were stealing electricity directly from the light transmission lines in Green Cap Housing Scheme.

The illegal connections were promptly disconnected, and approximately 4,000 meters of wire used in the theft were seized. FIR applications were submitted against the suspects to the local police stations.

Meanwhile, the Lahore Park Arab Sub-Division SDO inspected around 200 houses and uncovered electricity theft in 10 houses in Nangar village. Applications for registering cases have been submitted to the local police station.

The Johar Town Sub-Division SDO discovered an embroidery unit engaged in electricity theft. The accused individuals were tampering with the meter and using stolen electricity to operate two embroidery machines and an AC.

The spokesperson mentioned that the accused have been fined Rs 400,000, and an application has been filed with the concerned police station to initiate a case against them.

A two-story hostel was found to be involved in electricity theft by tampering with the meter in Ali Razaabad Sub-Division. The stolen electricity was being supplied to 16 rooms in the hostel. Lesco has submitted an application to the police for initiating a case against the accused.

Overall, Lesco’s teams detected 275 cases related to power pilferage on the 48th consecutive day of the anti-power theft campaign. The company has submitted FIR applications against 273 electricity thieves, out of which 181 FIRs have been registered in respective police stations, and 24 accused individuals have been arrested.

The spokesperson added that even large commercial consumers were found involved in electricity theft, and all of them had their connections disconnected and were charged with detection units. Among the seized connections, 12 were commercial, 1 was agricultural, 3 were industrial, and 259 were domestic. All these connections were disconnected, and they were charged a total of 371,308 units as detection bills, amounting to Rs 18.425 million.

Also, the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited teams disconnected 166 connections in response to complaints related to gas theft.

NTDC: The National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) has accelerated construction work on the 500kV Suki Kinari transmission line to ensure its completion within the defined time frame.

Despite harsh weather conditions and challenging terrain, all construction activities are progressing without significant interruptions, according to a spokesperson.

In a recent development, stringing work on the transmission line has also commenced. The spokesperson stated that the 75-kilometer-long 500kV double-circuit transmission line is being constructed to accommodate 884MW of clean and green energy from the Suki Kinari Hydropower Project into the National Grid, which is part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

This transmission line will enhance the NTDC network and contribute to industrial development in the region.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2023