Electricity stealing on the rise

Ministry of Power and Energy says electricity theft in the country has risen in recent times.

Officials have apprehended 331 persons during the month of January alone for stealing electricity from the national grid.

During the month of December 2011, this number has been at a low of 106 .

During the year  2011, officials have caught 2935 offenders and earned Rs. 199 million by imposing penalties on culprits.

It says, majority of the electricity theft takes place in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

“We have found that 25% of the electricity theft takes place in the North and Eastern provinces” said a spokesman of the Ministry.

In a bid to counter the trend, Officials are planning to bring in tough laws such as withdrawing electricity supplies to households who are engaged in the act of stealing electricity.

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