Jammu, Aug 28: Apni Party Provincial President, Jammu and former minister, S. Manjit Singh on Monday strongly opposed the installation of smart meters in Jammu which has sparked anger among the people following excessive electricity bills.
He was addressing a meeting of party workers at ward number 23 in Jammu. The meeting was organized by the District President Youth Wing Jammu, Shivam Choudhary.
During the meeting, the Apni Party leader discussed various issues related to development, cleanliness, installation of smart meters, traffic congestion, drug addiction, and other related issues confronted by the people in the above-said ward number 23.
In his address, the former minister said that it was a matter of great concern that JPDCL along with the administration and police have made all possible attempts to underestimate the concerns of the people. “It appears that the JPDCL is not interested in addressing the issues of the people, but to favour the installation of the meters that are producing the inflated electricity bills. The complaints are growing day by day, yet the concerns of the people are not being addressed,” he said.
He added, “The grievance cell has failed to convince the people, but attempts are being made to justify the installations and force people to pay the bills that are more than the amount they earn in a month, in some of the cases.”
Singh appealed for immediate suspension of the installation of the smart meters and demanded a fair investigation into the urgency of installing the smart meters in Jammu and Kashmir despite opposition by the people in all the areas, and districts.
Meanwhile, the Apni Party leader raised the issue of sanitation, scattered garbage, unscheduled electricity cuts, irregular drinking water supply, and traffic congestion on city roads. He, however, assured that if the Apni Party forms the next government, all the issues will be addressed for the welfare of all the people without any kind of discrimination.
