‘Hook a crook’ and get rewards in Haryana

By IANS

Chandigarh : “hookacrook4dhbvn” is just not another email address. It’s the name of the game in Haryana to catch hold of power thieves through an effective theft informer scheme.
One of the state’s power distribution agencies – Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) – has successfully implemented the scheme leading to not only detection of power theft cases but also realisation of penalty running into millions.


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The agency is using email addresses on Yahoo and Gmail to enable people to inform them through Internet about cases of power theft. If the information comes out to be true, the informer gets to take home cash rewards.

Toll free telephone numbers have also been provided to people who cannot access the Internet.

A DHBVN spokesperson said that 1,026 cases of electricity theft had been detected under this informer scheme so far. This has led to imposition of penalty worth Rs.20 million on those stealing power.

The agency has enhanced the minimum and maximum reward for reporting theft cases to Rs.1,000 and Rs.50,000 from Rs.500 and Rs.25,000 earlier.

The identity of the informers is kept a secret and a unique registration code is assigned to him or her. If the power theft is detected based on the information, a Rs.1,000 reward is immediately given to the informer.

When the total theft is assessed by electricity officials, the informer is entitled to 20 percent of the amount realised in penalty subject to a maximum of Rs.50,000 per case.

Officials conducting raids on premises where power theft is detected will also get a maximum reward of Rs.10,000 to be shared by the team, the spokesperson added.

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