Daylight power theft in public space goes unnoticed
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 03 2023:
A van belonging to a private individual has been stealthily tapping electricity from government lines at one of the parking places inaugurated by Chief Minister N Biren on June 26, 2020 .
The CM had inaugurated two parking slots atop Naga-nullah and another in front of BT Park, on the western side of Johnstone School to facilitate shopkeepers and traders operating in Thangal Keithel and Paona Bazar and ease the vehicle congestion in the market area.
It was also hoped that the arrangement would ease the inconveniences faced by shoppers owing to the crowd surge.
However, these parking spots, which were opened jointly by the MAHUD Department and Imphal Municipal Council, are yet to provide intended services to the people.
Aside from some shoppers parking in the area, none of the shopkeepers and plot owners in Thangal Keithel and Paona Bazar are using the parking places, but instead parking their vehicles in front of their shops and plots.
This in turn is causing huge problems to the vehicular movement in the area.
In addition, double parking is seen in many parts of the area.
Many are parking their vehicles as they wish along Paona Keithel route as no parking fee is charged, thereby causing massive congestion on this road.
Meanwhile, the parking place atop Naga-nullah is being occupied by street vendors or used for piling up goods by businesses, leaving no space for parking vehicles.
On the other hand, a fastfood van belonging to a private citizen was found parked for a long time in front of BT Park, on the western side of Johnstone School.
The van was found tapping electricity in plain view from BT Park along with tap water.
However, no one has been arrested/detained till date.
If the person(s) stealing the electricity happen to be from a poor family, they would have been arrested a long time ago.