Thursday, January 21, 2016

Powerless in India (Al Jazeera video)


An Indian electrician risks life and limb to siphon off electricity for poor areas in a city crippled by power cuts.
Loha Singh, a 28-year-old electrician in the Indian city of Kanpur, is renowned for his expertise in stealing electricity. Some see him as a modern-day Robin Hood, siphoning off electricity from the grid and providing free connections in poor neighbourhoods. In the face of crippling power cuts, his skills enable homes, factories and businesses to function normally.

However, things may be about to change. The city's electricity supply company has a new boss, Ritu Maheshwari, who is determined to clamp down on theft. It costs billions of rupees in lost revenue and holds back vital infrastructure upgrades. She dispatches raid teams to catch electricity thieves, dole out fines and cut off illegal connections.

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