Karachi Electric Supply Company in line with its stringent anti-theft drive successfully removed more than 2,000 illegal connections in an operation conducted in Saddam Chowk, Baldia Town area. A big number of security personnel from KESC police and local cops participated in the operations. The KESC anti-theft team conducted a major operation in the area, involving 9 vehicles and 30 team members.
The area consumers were not only indulging in illegal usage of electricity, but were also in default to the tune of Rs 13.9 million. The billing recovery ratio in the area was also merely 50 percent. Large lengths of 'kunda wires' were also confiscated from the area, including a number of unauthorised bamboo and iron poles used in the unauthorised connections were also confiscated.
KESC had earlier distributed thousands of new connections forms in this area, encouraging the illegal power consumers to register themselves with KESC as 'Legal Consumers'. Unfortunately, despite repeated drives for enrolment, to date only 700 applications for meter connections were received, amongst the thousands of users. Several warnings were issued to the users of illegal connection after surveys were conducted in the area having a web of illegal hook connections. However, operations were conducted after the residents showed no response. The area residents of Saddam Chowk Baldia Town had been latching on their illegal connections onto KESC's over head Low Tension main service lines.-PR