A report of MSEDCL itself shows Nagpur a good city. But the same MSEDCL leaves no stone unturned to hurl injustice on a law abiding city. Nagpur recorded the least number of power theft cases when the MSEDCL undertook a special drive across Maharashtra to detect pilferage of electricity. But Nagpur City is finding itself at receiving end when it comes to smooth and regular electricity supply. Apart from hours and hours of load-shedding on whimsical grounds, electricity supply gets interrupted by drop of a hat.
Nagpur News: A simple statement has brought a simple story to light. But the story is not so simple to tell. Nagpur City, Second Capital of Maharashtra, is being punished. Punished for being intelligent, punished for being large hearted, punished for sacrifice, and above all, punished for being not guilty. Nagpur City is finding itself at receiving end when it comes to smooth and regular electricity supply. Apart from hours and hours of load-shedding on whimsical grounds, electricity supply gets interrupted by drop of a hat. (Weather woes like strong winds, heavy rains courtesy poor machinery and maintenance). All these problems despite Nagpur being a decent, honest city.
Gold Rate
13 May 2025
A report of MSEDCL (Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Corporation Limited), the electricity supplier, itself shows Nagpur a good city. But the same MSEDCL leaves no stone unturned to hurl injustice on a law abiding city. Nagpur recorded the least number of power theft cases when the MSEDCL undertook a special drive across Maharashtra to detect pilferage of electricity.
It may be recalled, Nagpur Today had run a report titled: “MSEDCL nets Rs 10 crore from power stealers in a special drive across State, 1007 booked” which said the MSEDCL flied high and netted more than Rs 10 crore on account of power thefts exposed in a state-wide crackdown. The MSEDCL undertook a special drive across Maharashtra in the month of May and detected pilfering of 16,25,840 units in 1007 cases. Subsequently, an amount of Rs 10.28 crore was recovered from 1566 electricity stealers and the offenders were booked under various sections of Electricity Act-2003 apart from other penalizing actions. The special drive was undertaken in 14 Divisions of MSEDCL. During the drive, the MSEDCL squads inspected 3292 consumers of Single Phase and Three-Phase connections belonging to domestic, commercial and industrial categories. Subsequently, action was taken against a total of 1007 consumers under Section 135 of the Electricity Act-2003 and 51 consumers faced Section 126 of the Act on the charges of power theft. Out of the above said offenders, complaints against 410 consumers have been lodged with various police stations across the State and the process in other cases is underway. The maximum cases of power thefts were detected in Kalyan (244) followed by Bhandup (193), Nagpur Rural (186), Amravati 167), Nashik (118), Pune (110), Latur (110), Nanded (85), Kolhapur (79), Baramati (70), Ratnagiri (71), Jalgaon (62), Aurangabad (46) and the least in Nagpur City (25).
The above statement of MSEDCL makes it crystal clear that Nagpur City is much ahead in decency, honesty and way behind in illegal acts like power theft. But for MSEDCL, decent word holds no value. It needs hundreds of electricity thieves to value the service. MSEDCL’s motto, it seems, is: “Power is given only to him who dares to stoop and take it … one must have the courage to dare.” An inference can also be drawn from the MSEDCL statement, and motto, too, that “Pain and suffering are always inevitable for good, intelligent and large-hearted people. The really great men must have great sadness in Nagpur.” The words are true in real sense as Nagpur City is subjected to dark hours every now and then at slightest excuse. But the picture is totally different in other cities of Maharashtra, particularly the western ones, where the sun never sets (continuous and regular electricity supply). 24-hour power supply despite being guilty on the charges of electricity theft and other offences. The MSEDCL statement conspicuously and unscrupulously did not mention the record of power thefts in Mumbai whereas the drive was undertaken across Maharashtra. May be bigwigs from political, industrial, commercial and other fields involved in the power theft. Or may be MSEDCL have no jurisdiction. But the fact is Mumbai baths in bright illumination and stays cool for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 30 days a month. Because it is Capital City. The Second Capital City is for the sake of name and game only. But Nagpur City is honest. Then why the punishment? Is MSEDCL taking a cue from Western Maharashtra leaders in meting out step-motherly treatment to Nagpur?
In the present situation of injustice despite being not guilty, Nagpur citizens can brag the words: “…there is power in self-sacrifice.” But at the same time the cautioning words are: “Don’t sacrifice yourself too much, because if you sacrifice too much there’s nothing else you can give and nobody will care for you.”
And for MSEDCL, it could follow the words and be rational: “Rather let the crime of the guilty go unpunished than condemn the innocent”.
