Srinagar, July 31: Scores of women from Banday Mohalla and Zargar Mohalla Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Monday voiced their opposition to the installation of smart meters in their localities, demanding an immediate rollback of the decision.
The protesting women voiced their concerns over the financial burden imposed by the installation of these advanced meters. Many asserted that they were already struggling to pay the existing electricity tariffs, and the prospect of even heftier bills with the introduction of smart meters was simply untenable.
Jameela Begum, one of the protesters, highlighted the economic challenges faced by her family. She said her husband’s meager daily earnings of rupees 500 were insufficient to accommodate their basic needs, let alone the additional burden of expensive electricity bills. She said the decision to install smart meters unfairly targeted impoverished families like hers and called upon the administration to reconsider their decision.
Responding to the valley-wide protests, the Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) defended the smart meter initiative, dispelling fears of excessive tariff bills. The KPDCL stated that the new meters would enable consumers to access an uninterrupted 24×7 electricity supply. However, the women remained skeptical, citing the disparity between assurances and ground realities.
Another protester pointed out that a significant portion of the local population comprises daily laborers, whose meager incomes would not suffice to bear the brunt of exorbitant electricity tariffs. The sentiment echoed throughout the gathering, with participants urging Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to intervene and review the decision.
In light of the protests, the women implored the administration to prioritize the welfare of the impoverished and reconsider the imposition of smart meters. They emphasized the need for a fair and equitable approach that takes into account the financial constraints faced by the majority of the town’s residents.
