Development amid clamour around farm loan waivers

LUCKNOW: The BJP government in Uttar Pradesh has unleashed a slew of sops for power consumers — from deciding to not lodge FIRs in cases of power theft, popularly known as “katia” connections, to a one-time-settlement scheme for farmers with large power bill dues. These measures come just months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections due early next year.“Though the Electricity Act has a provision for lodging FIRs against those tapping electricity illegally, the state will not be invoking this,” state energy minister Srikant Sharma told TOI.“The idea is to legalise electricity connections for better revenue that would subsequently be wheeled into development of power infrastructure. All distribution companies would be asked to get illegal connections legalised,” Sharma said.According to Section 135 of the Electricity Act of 2003, a state government can lodge an FIR against those found guilty of charges of power theft and impose a fine based on a one-year assessment. The government also has the option of not lodging an FIR after levying a summon charge (a charge levied only on those using “katia connections”) on a consumer based on a year’s assessment.Sharma said the consumers facing FIRs for pilferage would also have their assessment, including surcharge, reduced by a fifth. “For example, if the assessment of usage by a consumer accused of pilferage is Rs 40,000, (it would be cut) to just Rs 8,000,'' he said.Power pilferage has been a cause of concern for the state government with most districts registering aggregate and technical commercial losses of around 30%. This is despite the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) setting a benchmark of 15% loss as acceptable.Electrification of rural areas is also seen as a move to woo people even as BJP gears up for a crucial poll battle against a prospective united opposition in the run-up to the next general elections.Under the OTS scheme, the UP Power Corporation would be waiving 100% of the surcharge for agricultural farmers who could not pay their electricity bills on time. This is the first time that the OTS scheme has been implemented by BJP since it came to power in UP after the 2017 assembly elections. The development comes amid a growing clamour around farm loan waivers after the Congress wrested the Hindi heartland states of MP, Rajasthan and Chhattishgarh from BJP. The OTS scheme, which is scheduled to start from Tuesday (January 1) and remain in force up to March 31, 2019, will require farmers to pay 30% of their pending dues to get registered and get the surcharge (fine imposed on delay in payment of ab electricity bill) waived.The scheme will also cover residential and commercial consumers having a sanctioned load of up to 2 KW and will take into account pending dues till December 31, 2018.“The scheme has been brought in for the welfare of the poor and farmers who were unable to pay their electricity bills on time,'' said Sharma. Laudatory messages are already pouring in, with UP Vidyut Upbhogta Parishad president A K Verma saying it was a welcome move by the state government and would provide relief to farmers and small consumers. The consumer will, however, be required to pay their actual bill in installments till March 31, 2019. According to UP Power Corporation Limited chairman Alok Kumar, around Rs 1,000 crore in surcharges is expected to be waived under the scheme.