Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 17: Residents of Chatabal area in Srinagar today expressed their dissatisfaction over the installation of smart meters, citing concerns about their ability to afford the high bills generated by these meters.
A large number of protestors, predominantly women, gathered at Chatabal Square in the old city to voice their opposition. The protestors raised slogans against the power development department, holding them responsible for installing smart meters in their impoverished neighborhood. Their protest resulted in the disruption of traffic for several hours.
According to the protestors, the majority of households in the area belong to lower-income groups, and the financial burden imposed by the smart meters would be beyond their means.
“We are all laborers here. My brother has been bedridden for the past nine years, and I struggle to pay for his medical expenses. We won’t be able to afford the bills generated by these meters,” one resident said.
The protestors highlighted the multitude of challenges they already face in their homes. “All the men here work as laborers, and their income is inconsistent. Sometimes they find work, but other times they earn nothing,” one protester said.
The protestors threatened to escalate their demonstrations if the authorities persist in installing the smart meters in their area, “If they do not stop installing these meters, they might as well cut off the electricity to the area. We do not want electricity anymore. Let them remove the electricity wires, and we will resort to using candles like in the past,” a protestor said.
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