Budgam, Aug 17: A group of women staged a protest against the installation of Smart Meters in the Haknipora village of Budgam district on Thursday.
The demonstrators expressed their discontent, stating that they already diligently pay their electricity bills to the power development department on a monthly basis, rendering the smart meters unnecessary.
Voicing their concerns, one of the protesting women pointed out the socioeconomic realities of the area, where a significant portion of families resides below the poverty line. This, she argued, makes it challenging for households to promptly settle electricity fees based on the readings provided by the smart meters.
“We consistently fulfill our obligation of paying electricity bills to the department every month. In light of this, the rationale behind introducing Smart Meters remains perplexing,” she questioned.
The protestors called upon the government to address the matter with urgency and find a suitable resolution. The deployment of Smart Meters was met with confusion and resistance among the locals, who now call for proper communication and explanation from the authorities.
Seeking intervention, the women made a direct appeal to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, urging him to personally intervene and evaluate the necessity of installing these meters in their community. The request underlines their desire for transparent decision-making that takes into account the unique challenges faced by residents, particularly those belonging to economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
