Transformer thefts by drug addicts cause Rs 250-crore loss to PSPCL

Drug addicts in Punjab are increasingly targeting transformers to fund their daily drug needs, leaving officials grappling with rising thefts and power outages. The state has witnessed a surge in transformer thefts, exacerbating the financial burden on the already cash-strapped Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).

According to the data collected by The Tribune, transformer thefts have caused Rs 250-crore losses to the PSPCL over the past five years. A record 12,709 transformers were either stolen or reported missing during 2020-21 alone, resulting in a loss of Rs 52.51 crore during the financial year 2021-22. During other years, average 11,000 transformers and other PSPCL goods were stolen annually.

Thieves, often aided by local scrap dealers, have developed new method to dismantle and sell transformers, causing over Rs 50-crore losses to the power utility annually. “These thefts also lead to frequent power cuts, especially in rural areas,” said a senior PSPCL official.

“Drug addicts find power transformers an easy target as unscrupulous scrap dealers readily buy these on cash payment, which is what the addicts need,” said a senior IPS officer privy to the matter.

Villagers allege that in a majority of such cases, drug addicts are the culprits. According to the data collected from the PSPCL, almost 55,000 transformers were stolen or reported missing over the past five years. Transformers are being increasingly targeted for oil and aluminium coils, which the thieves sell and earn over Rs 35,000 to Rs 60,000 per piece.

The data reveals that the border zone (Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Tarn Taran) has seen maximum transformer thefts, causing a loss of nearly Rs 100 crore in the past five years, followed by the south zone (Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, Ropar and Mohali) with Rs 70-crore loss.

“In a majority of such cases, the transformers installed on the village outskirts or at secluded places are stolen. By the time the complaints are received, the thieves dismantle these, leaving no trace,” Ajaypal Singh Atwal, general secretary, PSEB Engineers Association.

Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said drug addicts were primarily behind transformer thefts. “In some villages, our volunteers maintain regular vigil,” he added.

Punjab