Chandigarh Apr 10 (IANS): Tightening the noose around power thieves in the state, power utilities in Haryana on Monday announced stricter action against government employees found involved in power theft.

The Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) have ordered strict action against government employees found involved in power theft, a spokesman of the power utilities said here.

"The employee of any department found involved in the theft of electricity would invite action against him under Electricity Act as well as Haryana Civil Service Rules, 2016. Apart from this, besides imposing a heavy penalty, departmental action would be initiated against them," the spokesman said.

There are about 2.5 lakh employees working in different departments of the state government. Besides, over 1.5 lakh employees are engaged in different boards and corporations under the state government.

"During raids conducted by the electricity department in different districts, various cases of power theft in the premises of government employees have come to fore. Till now, though action was being taken against the erring employees under the Electricity Act, their concerned departments were not being informed about their offence," he pointed out.

The spokesman said in future, while taking serious note of such incidents, the power utilities have decided to not only take action against such employees but also inform their departments so that, apart from imposing a heavy penalty, departmental action could be initiated against them.

Haryana has been grappling with the problem of power theft and unpaid electricity bills for the past many years.