Date:18/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/18/stories/2007071853790400.htm

New Delhi

Big drop in power theft, says Sheila

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday hailed privatisation of the power distribution network in the Capital as a “brave and great” endeavour, but emphasised that power needs to be used judiciously.

Speaking at the launch of Delhi Transco’s greening campaign, “Grow More Trees”, at a 400 kV sub-station near Maharani Bagh here, Ms. Dikshit said: “Delhi’s position today is something that we could not even imagine. It was commonplace to have power cuts for days and hours on end. The city was known worldwide for its high theft percentage. Five years ago, the Govt. took a brave and a great step by allowing power privatisation.”

Down to 35 per cent

Highlighting the significant dip in theft percentage in the past five years, the Chief Minister said: “The average [theft percentage] has come down to 35-32 per cent and we are hopeful that over the next two years it will come down further to 25-22 per cent.” Referring to the submergence of land near the coastal areas of Orissa and in the Sunderbans, Ms. Dikshit said: “Twenty-seven per cent of the climate change in India and globally is caused by energy production. We need to strike a balance. It is for this reason that the Power Department has been engaged in the maintenance of environment and ecology.”

Commenting on the Government’s greening initiatives, Power Minister Haroon Yusuf said: “The work undertaken to improve Delhi’s green cover in the past eight years has been equivalent to the work carried out in the past 40 years.”

Speaking about the Power Department’s efforts to enhance the city’s greens, Principal Secretary (Power) Rakesh Mehta said: “The DTL has earmarked 1.04,630 sq. m. land at various sub-stations for planting trees.”