Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 4: Residents of Baba Daryadin in district Ganderbal’s Nagbal area today staged a protest against the installation of smart electricity meters in their locality.
Scores of locals, mostly women, stepped out of their homes, raising slogans against the Government and opposing the meter installation.
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The protestors said they cannot afford higher power bills and noted they had been promised relief ahead of the elections.
“Meters are not acceptable to us at any cost. We have been without electricity for the last four days. They came here to install meters, which we did not allow, and then cut our power. We are facing immense difficulties,” a protesting woman said.
Residents alleged that because they resisted the installation of smart meters, the Power Development Department (PDD) cut electricity to the area, forcing them to suffer in harsh winter conditions. “The meters should not be installed. We are already struggling to pay the existing bills-how will we afford higher bills after smart meters?” another woman protester asked.
They said they currently pay around Rs 2,000 per month and are seeking concessions, not smart meters that they fear will inflate their bills further.
“The Chief Minister came here, sought our votes, and promised relief. We trusted him and voted, but nothing has been done,” a group of protesting women said.
Meanwhile, Executive Engineer PDD Ganderbal, Shamim Ahmad, said installation of smart meters is essential for improving power regulation and transparency. He said electricity will not be restored in areas “where resistance continues.” “Smart meters are necessary for every village. Until the installation process is completed, power supply will not be restored in such areas,” he said.
Residents urged the authorities to halt the meter installation and immediately restore power supply.
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