Pune : Electricity theft at PMC ward office parking ; alleges activist

Abhijit Chaugule, a Mahalunge resident & area president, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Balewadi has alleged that electricity theft has been happening in the parking lot of the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) Aundh-Baner Ward Office. He discovered this when he was on his visit to the ward office on January 12 (Friday).

Speaking to Pune Pulse, Chaugule said, “Some officers of the Ward Office of Aundh-Baner were charging their personal electric two-wheeler without any permission at the parking lot located on the ground floor. In this regard, Girish Dapkekar, assistant commissioner in the Aundh-Baner Ward Office has been given a memorandum to take action against the concerned guilty officer. A request has also been made to set up an e-charging station for two-wheelers as well as four-wheelers in the parking lot of the Aundh Baner Ward Office.”

Chaugule further alleged, “There is an electric board in the parking lot which is often used for e-vehicle charging. I had asked an employee of the ward office if they have the permission to charge e-vehicles by using the electricity board in the parking lot. He did not answer if the employees had permission for vehicle charging. Instead, he tried to show his power on me by saying, Who are you? Why are you asking this, etc? I took him to the Ward Officer where he apologized & assured me that he won’t take electricity from the board to charge the vehicle ever again.”

As per information from the request letter sent to the PMC Aundh-Baner Ward Office regarding electricity theft, it has become a regular practice that the two-wheelers of some officers are being charged in the parking lot. The concerned officers have misused their position and have put up an electricity board for permanent charging at the parking lot. This proves that the electricity of the Aundh-Baner Ward Office is being stolen. This matter has been brought to the attention of the parking lot inspection staff at the said place. Action should be taken against the guilty officers and the details of the related action should be given in written form.

Speaking to Pune Pulse, Girish Dapkekar, Assistant Municipal Commissioner, PMC Aundh-Baner Ward Office, responding to the allegations said, “If anything like this is happening, we will soon take complete information of the matter, investigate & take strict action against the violator.”

Shreyas Vange