MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): A shocking case of electricity theft in Muzaffarabad has come to light, where a water turbine installed on the river near Chattar Klass has been running without a meter for the past year.
Sources claim this illegal setup is operating with the alleged support of the local electricity department.
According to reports, not only is the turbine unauthorised, but electricity generated from it is being used to power several waterfalls and nearby hotels.
This illegal connection has continued unchecked, causing a serious loss to the government treasury while the officials concerned reportedly pocketed their share.
Despite the scale of the electricity theft in Muzaffarabad, no official action has been taken. Sources reveal that the unauthorised supply generates an estimated three to five lakh rupees daily.
Over the past year, the revenue from this operation has bypassed the government entirely, raising questions about accountability and oversight in the electricity department.
Locals have raised concerns about double standards. They point out that while ordinary citizens face harsh consequences for even minor delays in paying their electricity bills, such as having their meters removed, such large-scale theft is allowed to go on without interruption.
The incident of electricity theft in Muzaffarabad underlines how the system is riddled with corruption and oversight. Individuals working there are supposedly accepting money from illegal operations without declaring it and acting accordingly.
