Bidyut Prohori App launched in Kolkata to curb electricity theft
Synopsis
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari has launched the Bidyut Prohori App — a citizen-facing platform to report electricity theft — while simultaneously announcing that all Electricity Department recruitment will shift to the Public Service Commission. It is a rare dual move: digitising complaint redressal and attempting to depoliticise hiring in the same sitting.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari launched the Bidyut Prohori App at Bidyut Bhavan, Salt Lake, Kolkata on 21 July .
The app enables citizens to instantly report electricity theft (hooking) and track complaint resolution.
Adhikari declared a zero tolerance policy for outstanding electricity bills in factories and commercial buildings.
All future recruitment in the Electricity Department will be handed over to the Public Service Commission .
Electricity theft remains prevalent in remote villages and districts bordering Kolkata, with past complaints often unresolved.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday, 21 July launched the Bidyut Prohori App at Bidyut Bhavan in the Salt Lake area of Kolkata, giving residents a direct digital channel to report electricity theft — locally known as hooking. The launch marks the state government's first technology-driven intervention against a problem that has persisted across remote villages and districts bordering the city.
What the App Does
The Bidyut Prohori App allows citizens to instantly lodge complaints about illegal electricity connections and hooking. According to the Chief Minister, complaints filed through the platform will be resolved promptly. Previously, residents had little visibility into how grievances filed with the electricity department were being addressed.
What Adhikari Said
Speaking at the inauguration, Adhikari said, 'You can report all complaints related to electricity theft through this app. It will be resolved quickly. The electricity department is very important. Several other works will be done in the future, which will be discussed.'
On outstanding dues, he added, 'There is a zero tolerance policy for outstanding bills in factories. Many commercial buildings have pending electricity bills. In most cases, the owners are close to leaders. But that will not happen. Collect the outstanding bills. Send notices. However, be humane in domestic matters. You have to look at the record and take a decision.'
Recruitment Overhaul in Electricity Department
Alongside the app launch, Adhikari announced a major recruitment drive for the Electricity Department, with a significant structural change: all hiring will be transferred to the Public Service Commission to ensure merit-based appointments. He acknowledged past irregularities in the department's recruitment process, saying, 'There should be a recruitment rule. If a minister comes and tells someone to look at my people, then no one can stop that. But I don't want recruitment to take place like this. Everyone should get a job on the right path after completing their studies.'
The Broader Problem
Electricity theft remains a widespread issue in West Bengal, particularly in peri-urban and rural areas. In many instances, complaints lodged with local electricity offices have gone unresolved for extended periods, eroding public trust in the system. This is the state government's stated attempt to bring accountability and speed to the redressal process through a centralised digital platform.
What Comes Next
The government has indicated that additional reforms within the electricity sector are planned, though specifics are yet to be announced. The handover of recruitment to the Public Service Commission is expected to address longstanding concerns about political interference in departmental hiring. Whether the app achieves meaningful adoption — and whether complaint resolution improves in practice — will be the true measure of this initiative's success.
Point of View
And tying future appointments to a merit-based body could reduce it, if the order is enforced. The zero-tolerance stance on commercial dues is also notable — the admission that defaulters are often politically connected is unusually candid for a sitting chief minister, and it sets a benchmark against which his own government will now be measured.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bidyut Prohori App launched in West Bengal?
The Bidyut Prohori App is a mobile application launched by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on 21 July to allow citizens to instantly report electricity theft, commonly known as hooking. It was inaugurated at Bidyut Bhavan in the Salt Lake area of Kolkata.
Why was the Bidyut Prohori App needed?
Electricity theft is widespread in remote villages and districts surrounding Kolkata. Complaints filed with the electricity department often went unresolved, with no clear process for follow-up — the app is designed to address that transparency gap.
What did Adhikari say about outstanding electricity bills?
Adhikari announced a zero tolerance policy for unpaid bills in factories and commercial buildings, acknowledging that many defaulters are politically connected. He directed officials to issue notices and collect dues, while asking for a humane approach in domestic cases.
How will recruitment in the West Bengal Electricity Department change?
Chief Minister Adhikari announced that recruitment in the Electricity Department will be transferred to the Public Service Commission to ensure merit-based, transparent hiring. He cited past irregularities and political interference in appointments as the reason for the change.
Who is affected by the new electricity theft reporting system?
The app is aimed at residents across West Bengal, particularly in areas where illegal hooking is common, including rural and peri-urban zones bordering Kolkata. Commercial and industrial electricity consumers are also directly affected by the zero-tolerance dues policy announced alongside the launch.
