Electricity freebies: A stepping stone to power theft.

Though all political parties have introduced freebies during elections, the AAP has been solely responsible for politicizing the power sector in India. Nothing is free in today’s world, and every commodity or service has a price tag. So, why are freebies being introduced in the energy sector?

Power theft may increase exponentially if freebies are introduced into the electricity sector, which is equivalent to officially approving and justifying the perpetrators’ actions. The current Delhi Chief Minister, Shri Arvind Kejriwal, even reconnected the electricity that had been disconnected due to power theft by the power utilities, a decade ago.

This piqued the media’s interest, and as a result, he rose to power in Delhi. No utility can provide free electricity unless they bear the cost in advance. Naturally, the power utilities face a double whammy of no government assistance and increased power theft. Now, the Indian National Congress has did promise freebies in Gujarat if it wins the elections in 2023. All of this focuses on a dry election manifesto filled with gimmicks. The Distribution companies in Gujarat are  Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (DGVCL), Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (MGVCL), Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (PGVCL), and Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (UGVCL). The Ministry of Power, Government of India, recently awarded these four Discoms with the highest rating, A+. This is based on a variety of parameters such as loss reduction, collection efficiency, periodic tariff increases, power theft control, and so on. It remains to be seen how long they will be able to maintain their top positions once freebies are implemented.

The nation needs statesmen, not politicians. India needs healthy power utilities rather than cash-strapped Discoms. India needs effective governance, not anarchy born of abundance.

In a move similar to the proven successful agenda in Delhi, the Congress party promised to dismiss all cases of electricity theft. This indirectly encourages people to commit power theft and believe that government services should be provided for free. This is the predicament in the Indian power sector. These power-hungry politicians will never let this industry stand alone. If this is the manifesto of a national political party, it is best not to consider others’.

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