Over 15 RWAs in Greater Noida served power theft notices by NPCL, residents meet officials

According to Devender Tiger, a resident of Sector Beta 1, the notices pertained to the power usage in the sector’s common areas, such as the guard room electricity and decorative lights at the main sector gates

After the Noida Power Corporation Limited (NPCL) issued notices to 15 sectors in Greater Noida over alleged power theft, residents said that representatives from the Federation of RWAs in Greater Noida met with officials on Wednesday, urging them to retract the notices.

A delegation of representatives met with Sarnath Ganguly, NPCL’s vice president, to inform him of the situation and request the discom to withdraw the notices. (HT Photo)

According to Devender Tiger, a resident of Sector Beta 1 and president of Federation of RWAs in Greater Noida which includes representatives of 40 RWAs of the area, in June, the NPCL served notices to at least 15 Residents’ Welfare Associations (RWAs), accompanied by electricity bills ranging from ₹30,000 to ₹1 lakh.

“The notices were addressed to the respective RWAs where the NPCL alleged that the sector has been stealing power from the meters of Greater Noida authority streetlights and electricity poles. However, these notices have been sent wrongly,” said Tiger.

He further added that the notices pertained to the power usage in the sector’s common areas, such as the guard room electricity and decorative lights at the main sector gates.

Tiger said, “Since the sectors lack separate meters for common area facilities, we are compelled to obtain power connections from other meters. Consequently, the NPCL has charged us exorbitant amounts and accused us of power theft.”

A delegation of representatives met with Sarnath Ganguly, NPCL’s Vice President, to inform him of the situation and request the discom to withdraw the notices. Deepak Bhati, the federation’s General Secretary, said, “We requested officials to provide separate meters for common area power usage, and all RWAs are willing to bear the cost. However, the notices already served should be retracted.”

Officials said that they would investigate the matter. Ganguly said, “We have listened to the residents’ grievances but have not made any assurances regarding withdrawing the notices. We will hold another meeting with the residents to devise an action plan for resolving the issue of meters for common area facilities in sectors. We will also investigate the notices that were sent.”