New Delhi: To ensure that critical power infrastructure in the city is protected from any kind of cyberattack or breach, LG VK Saxena on Friday gave his approval for the notification to declare the ‘critical information infrastructure’ of Delhi power utilities and the computer resources of their associated dependencies, to be ‘protected systems’.

With this, the government will also notify the name of the person authorised by the power utilities to access these ‘protected systems’.

According to officials, cybersecurity monitoring agencies observed the attempts to disrupt the power system operation in the capital, following which the ministry of power wrote to the chief secretaries of all states and Union territories in March 2021 to take precautionary actions.

“Cyber attackers are increasingly targeting the power sector, hence taking preventive measures and mitigating threats to protect Indian power system need special attention of all power sector holders,” the letter from the ministry had underlined.

Issued in accordance with sub-section (1) of section 70 of Information Technology Act, 2000, this notification would help put into place an effective system of checks, comprising information security practices and procedures and access control, which will ensure that the computer resources of the power utilities — Delhi Transco, State Load Dispatch Centre, TATA Power Delhi Distribution Limited, BSES Rajdhani Power Limited and BSES Yamuna Power Limited, will be secured against incapacitation or destruction.

The computer resources of the above utilities fall in the category of ‘critical information infrastructure’ and their destruction or incapacitation will have a debilitating impact on national security, economy, public health or security.

“Any person who secures access or attempts to secure access to these protected computer systems, in contravention of the provisions of the laid down procedures, shall be punished with imprisonment up to 10 years and also be liable for fine,” said an official. Officials said that National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre had asked the Delhi government and power utilities in March to identify such critical information infrastructures.