The scheme has been tested and found successful, electricity department officials said. "The scheme will be implemented next in a rehabilitation colony in Sector 25. This will prevent loss of revenue," Chandigarh's power department's chief engineer Surinder Pal said.
The loss is estimated at 3-5 percent of the department's annual revenue. Chandigarh, with a population of 1.1 million, has over 300,000 immigrants, most of them residing in illegal slum colonies but rehabilitated in built-up flats. There are nearly 25,000 rehabilitation dwelling units here.
Published 04 November 2009, 10:04 IST