Power Minister AK Sharma on Saturday asked power sector officials to quickly address issues such as dilapidated poles, loose power lines and overhead cables hanging dangerously close to homes, and to crack down on defaulters and electricity thieves.

Highlighting the risk of electrical accidents that could cause loss of life and animals as well as fires, Sharma stressed that these incidents stem from systemic faults that require immediate rectification. The minister urged officials to regularly inspect and closely monitor the condition of electrical infrastructure to ensure public safety.

The minister was holding a meeting with officials of UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) and DISCOM here.

He ordered DISCOMs to crack down on power theft, demanding strict action against violators, especially in areas where the theft was taking place. He stressed that consumers should not face unnecessary inconvenience and efforts should focus on targeted areas with recurring theft complaints.

In regions where online losses exceed 60%, Sharma urged chief executives to lead efforts to reduce these losses, with additional support from vigilance teams and departments.

At a review meeting at Shakti Bhawan, Sharma expressed concern over the ministry’s difficulty in addressing revenue losses and meeting collection targets. He called for an effective strategy to recover unpaid dues from defaulters.

Sharma noted that the government was making substantial efforts to strengthen the power infrastructure across the state, with the aim of providing uninterrupted and high-quality power supply to consumers.

UPPCL Chairman Ashish Kumar Goyal reinforced the need to prevent damage to transformers and stressed that adequate funds had been allocated for maintenance work. In areas where transformers are heavily damaged, strict measures will follow, he warned.

Goyal also emphasized accountability, directing chief executives of DISCOMs to improve revenue collection in underperforming areas. He said that the Chief Engineers and Superintendent Engineers should take ownership of their respective regions and deliver better results.