The Telangana government has decided to set up a full-fledged anti-power theft police station in Siddpet town. The station will be headed by an Inspector of Police rank officer, who will report to the managing director of the Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSSPDCL).
Orders were issued by the Finance Department on Friday, sanctioning the police station, while the Home Department also issued a Government Order (GO) approving the creation of the Inspector post.
The TSSPDCL, which was earlier overseeing cases of power theft, said that such cases will now be handled by the special police station, which will have state-wide jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the state government also accorded its sanction, for the creation of 148 posts in Telangana State Power Generation Corporation Limited (TSGenco).
These posts will be filled on deputation basis, with police personnel from the respective local cadres of the Home department.
The posts include one deputy superintendent of police, 10 assistant commandants (from the Armed Reserve or Telangana State Special Police), 12 inspectors, 14 sub-inspectors, 36 head constables, 31 male constables and 44 woman police constables.
However, media reports point out that the police station may have only little significance, as the state government had already begun providing 24x7 free power supply to the agricultural sector.
While the policy of granting 24 hours power supply to the agriculture sector has been touted as one of the most popular policies of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the state, it has also led to consequences, that have seemingly affected agriculture adversely.
Read:
Why Telangana’s farmers are suffering despite 24-hour power supply for agriculture