Waris Fayaz
Sopore, Mar 24: Protests against the installation of smart meters in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district continue, this time in Sopore’s Chinkipora area.
Eyewitnesses said that scores of women on Friday staged a protest demonstration against the Power Development Department (PDD) for installing smart meters in the area.
They assembled outside the office of Additional Deputy Commissioner Baramulla and raised slogans against the PDD for installing smart meters.
The protesters said that their families are not in a position to pay “excessive bills” generated by smart meters. “We don’t earn enough to afford the high electricity tariffs. We will be unable to pay such bills. We are poor families here, and the majority of our men are daily wagers,” said a woman.
Another woman said, “We already have meters installed in our homes and we are paying regular bills. What is the fun of installing these new meters?” This is an injustice to poor people like us.”
The protesting women said they are already stressed due to skyrocketing of the prices of essential commodities. “We cannot bear these additional expenses,” they said.
Protests against the installation of smart meters across the district are reported time and again. Earlier on March 22, residents of Khanpora staged protests against the PDD’s move.
