Baramulla, Aug 21 (KNO): Scores of residents, mostly women from Ferozpora area of Tangmarg on Thursday staged a protest against the installation of smart electricity meters in the village.
The agitated protestors, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) opposed the move, claiming the new meters would result in unaffordable bills.
Women demonstrators alleged that they are already burdened with inflated monthly bills ranging between Rs 3,000 and Rs 4,000. “We are poor and cannot afford this. If the authorities are threatening us with FIRs for refusing, then we don’t even need electricity,” one of the protesting women said.
The protestors appealed to the government to reconsider the decision, keeping in view the economic condition of local inhabitants.
Meanwhile, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) Manzoor Bukhari said the metering drive was part of a routine process and accused some miscreants of provoking villagers with misinformation about exorbitant bills.
“This village already has conventional meters on cables. We are only replacing them with smart meters, which will not increase the bills. Instead, consumers will get assured 24-hour power supply”, he said.
It is noteworthy, that the issue of smart meter installation has sparked similar protests in several parts of Kashmir over the past year, with residents expressing concerns over rising electricity tariffs and affordability—(KNO)