Berhampur, April 10: In a bizarre turn of events, Ganjam district’s only energy police station, which deals with cases pertaining to electricity supply and theft, is running without any lock-up and regular inspector.

“The energy police station, popularly known as bidyut thana in the district in Chatrapur, is running with one acting inspector, who has been put up on additional charges, and two constables. The station, however, has a sanctioned strength of one inspector, two sub-inspectors (SI), two assistant sub-inspectors (ASI), two havildars and six constables,” said Niranjan Behera, the inspector of marine police station, Ganjam, who is presently holding the additional responsibility of the energy police station.

“There is no lock-up, no toilet and no facilities of water inside the energy police station, which was established to check power theft in areas under the jurisdiction Southern Electricity Supply Utility Service (Southco). While in office, we purchase drinking water from the local market and use it,” said Behera.

“The jurisdiction of the police station, dealing with power cases, covers 11 regular police stations, including Hinjilicut, Aska, Kabisurya Nagar, Polsara, Khallikote, Kodala, Rambha, Ganjam, Chatrapur and Chamakhandi in Ganjam district, and Krushnaprasad area under Puri district. “It is unimaginable that an inspector, who has two charges and two constables, is covering such a vast area,” said a local resident.

Though the bidyut thana for the district was opened on July 1, 2010, only seven cases have so far been registered. In five of these cases, the police have succeeded in filing chargesheets.

As the energy police station did not have a lock-up, three persons who were to be lodged, were sent to the marine police station of which Behera is also in-charge.

Though the government provides infrastructure, power distribution companies foot the entire bill for these police stations. The government sends police officers. As against a target of 32 such police stations, one for a district, so far 11 police stations have been set up.

These police stations deal with tampering of electric meters, bypassing the meters by plastering the cables inside the walls, and unauthorised tapping of power supply.

“When we used to approach the police to apprehend people indulging in power thefts, they were not able to pay attention to our complaints. That was the reason why we had suggested setting up of separate police stations. The distribution companies pay the salaries, other perquisites and a vehicle for the movement of the police staff on deputation,” said a former official of a distribution company.