However, Board sources said it was unlikely they would be able to meter pumpsets using more than 10 HP, which makes it impossible to distinguish between big and marginal farmers. Therefore, the flat rate slapped on the agriculture sector is likely to continue. (See Express Newsline, November 9).

While the raids on the HT units are expected to commence next month, the monthly billing is likely to be introduced in the first half of next year, once the administrative steps are worked out, though the Board doesn't expect either of these steps to offset the losses incurred through agricultural subsidies.

According to Board member (administration) S K Nanda, 22 towns and cities, including Gondal, had been identified as home to rampant power pilferage. ``The Board intends to impart something of income-tax raids in these checks. So the teams will comprise 11-odd deputy engineers, not local officers'', he said, adding that they would be supervised by the chief engineer (distribution).

Apart from investigating cases of power theft, the teams will probe the reasons for a drop in bills of HT consumers. The monthly domestic billing is a suggestion of Price Waterhouse, a consulting firm retained by the GEB to figure out ways of a financial turnaround. ``Though this is a people-friendly step and will help revenue recovery somewhat, the process will be cumbersome for the Board'', Nanda said, adding, however, that a similar step for HT consumers could not be considered.

Recovery of dues -- amounting to more than Rs 50 lakhs -- from government and semi-government bodies, including even the Water Supply Department, according to sources, is another aspect the GEB is focusing on. The consultants have suggested the dues of such bodies be adjusted against any government funds that may be forthcoming for them.

The Board has also received Rs 7 crores from municipalities and municipal corporations after threatening them with disconnection of power to water installations. It has also written to the State government suggesting that any grants coming to Cambay, Amreli, Kodinar and Godhra -- habitual defaulters, according to the GEB -- be cut.

The steps assume significance for the GEB in light of the delay in receiving cyclone damage claims amounting to Rs 500 crores from the State government. Board sources said they'd been assured they'd get the money as soon as the State government received it from the Centre.

Whatever its plans on other fronts, there is little chance of agricultural connections being metered. However, agricultural connections provided under the Tatkal scheme would be metered, Nanda said, adding that meters were also being installed on the transformer centres of rural feeders.

Sources said 8,000 such meters had been installed till date. The target is 1.11 lakh by 2002.