West Bengal launches Bidyut Prahari to curb theft

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari launched the Bidyut Prahari mobile app to allow residents to report electricity theft, illegal hooking, and hazardous infrastructure, with features to upload photos, share location, and track complaint status while keeping reporters’ identities confidential. He emphasized a zero-tolerance approach to electricity theft and outstanding factory bills, while urging a humane, record-based handling of domestic dues. The government also announced a major recruitment reform for the Electricity Department, directing appointments to be routed through the West Bengal Public Service Commission to curb irregularities. Officials said the app will enable rapid resolution of complaints and support ongoing initiatives to curb pilferage, promising additional measures in the future. The program aims to increase transparency and accountability, linking citizen reports to prompt action by the power department. These developments underscore the administration’s focus on modernizing enforcement and reforming bureaucratic processes to address power theft and billing issues.