PGVCL uncovers ₹183 crore electricity theft in Saurashtra and Kutch

An intensive investigation undertaken by Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL) in the Saurashtra and Kutch regions over the last six months has detected electricity theft exceeding ₹183 crore. According to a report by Sandesh, this investigation drive was continued despite the electricity crisis, during which a total of more than 2.28 lakh electricity connections were inspected between 1 April and 15 October.

During this investigation, electricity theft or irregularities were observed in an average of 14.53% of connections. A total assessment of more than ₹183 crore has been made in this entire process. The investigation statistics suggest that while electricity theft generally occurs more in rural areas, this time, more theft was observed in urban areas, contrary to that. For example, the rate of theft in Rajkot Rural remained at only 11.66%, while in Rajkot City, this rate was found to be nearly double.

The situation in Rajkot City appeared most concerning. Out of every 100 connections inspected by electricity teams in Rajkot, 21.37 connections, i.e., 21.37%, were found to have irregularities, which is the highest in Saurashtra. Looking at it by circle, electricity theft was recorded in 18.26% of connections in Bhavnagar circle, while irregularities were found in 17.84% of connections in Jamnagar circle. In Botad, theft was caught in 15.8% of connections and in Amreli, this rate was 14.59%.

Talking about other areas, irregularities were encountered in 13.72% of connections in Surendranagar, 13.09% in Junagadh, 12.62% in Porbandar, and 12.29% in Morbi. In Anjar, irregularities were observed in 11.15% of connections. The lowest rate of theft across the entire PGVCL area was recorded in the Bhuj circle of Kutch, where irregularities were found in only 9.03% of connections. Information has emerged that the surveillance process will be made more intensive in the future.