In fact, the kundis can be seen in almost all the labour colonies. For that matter, even security personnel on guard duty in the heart of the city resort to kundi to easily meet their electricity needs.

Three months ago, a separate electricity sub-division was created for providing power to the rehabilitated colonies and slums. According to the official supervising the operation, so far 14,000 persons have been issued connections.A maximum of 6,000 power connections have been issued in Colony Number 5, followed by 1,500 each in Palsora Colony, Kumhar Colony, Janata Colony and Nehru Colony. A minimum of 1,000 connections were issued in Palsora, Colony Number 4 and Bapu Dham Colony.

Earlier, the administration had decided to give power connections to 30,000 persons whose names are listed in the 1995 survey list. Presently, the number of slum-dwellers has gone up to 50,000, say officials supervising the operation. They expressed apprehension regarding the successful implementation of the scheme as ``colony residents are habitual power thieves''.

The cross-section of labour colony residents whom the Chandigarh Newsline spoke to were not to keen about coming forward for connections and paying for electricity.

Power theft through kundis has led to frequent breakdowns and tripping of the transformer. The worst affected localities are Sectors 42, 44, 45, 25 and Phase I and II of Industrial Area where production in the industries is affected adversely.

Despite several public interest litigations (PILs) filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court over the past three years, there is no let up on power theft. Officials claim that the process of electrification will be completed ... ``but not this year''.