Handwara residents protest installation of smart metres

Kupwara, Mar 13: The residents of Waskhura in the Handwara area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district Thursday staged a protest against the installation of smart metres saying that the move by the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) was against the common people.

Scores of women assembled on the Handwara-Vilgam road to protest against the KPDCL officials who had arrived there for the installation of smart meters.

The protesters said that they belong to poor families and cannot afford smart meters, which they said generate exorbitant bills.

“We have been paying monthly flat bills to the tune of Rs 1200-1400 which is excessive keeping in view our feeble economic conditions,” said a female protestor. “We won’t be able to afford exorbitant bills generated by smart meters.”

The protesters said that they have been facing multiple civic issues including poor road conditions and drinking water crisis.

They demanded that the government should address these basic needs before proceeding with the installation of smart meters.

“We have been suffering due to the lack of proper roads and an acute drinking water shortage. The government should first resolve these issues before imposing smart meters on us,” a protester said.

Later, officials from KPDCL and Police arrived at the spot and pacified the protesters following which they dispersed from the area peacefully.