At a high-level meeting held at the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) headquarters on Wednesday, civic chief Saurabh Rao reminded officials that giving power to unauthorised buildings goes against court orders and must stop
Thane civic chief Saurabh Rao asked the officials to verify the legal status of the properties first before supplying electricity. Representational Pic/File
Thane civic chief Saurabh Rao has instructed electricity companies not to provide power connections to unauthorised properties, reported the PTI.
He said that the power firms must first confirm whether the building is legal before supplying electricity.
At a high-level meeting held at the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) headquarters on Wednesday, Rao reminded officials that giving power to unauthorised buildings goes against court orders and must stop.
An official said that the Thane Municipal Commissioner conveyed that supplying power to unauthorised buildings and structures was a violation of court orders and must be prevented through rigorous verification procedures.
He asked them to verify the legal status of such properties first.
"There are clear orders from the High Court that power should not be given to any unauthorised construction," he said, according to the PTI.
Rao made it clear that Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL) and Torrent Power are both legally responsible for checking the legal status of a property before approving a connection.
He also pointed out that electricity should not be supplied just based on an affidavit or application. All relevant legal documents must be checked first.
"Electricity cannot be supplied on the basis of an affidavit or application alone. The power companies must verify supporting documents that establish the legal status of a structure before granting any connection," Saurabh Rao said, according to the PTI.
The meeting was attended by senior Thane Municipal Corporation officials and executives from the power supply firms.
“This is a serious matter. The Bombay High Court has clearly said that only authorised buildings should get electricity. This rule must be followed strictly from today,” Saurab Rao said, as per the PTI.
To ensure compliance and minimise inconvenience to genuine consumers, the civic chief asked both companies to work in coordination with the TMC's Urban Development Department and establish a joint verification mechanism.
"A streamlined procedure must be put in place immediately to ensure that all future electricity connections are vetted for legality. The power companies must escalate any ambiguity to senior levels to avoid errors," the TMC chief added.
(with PTI inputs)
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