Budgam, Feb 21 — A group of women staged a protest in Waterwani village of Budgam on Saturday against the installation of smart electricity meters, alleging the move could lead to higher monthly power bills and burden low-income households.
Witnesses said dozens of women gathered in the locality and demanded an immediate suspension of the metering drive until authorities hold wider consultations with residents and clarify the billing mechanism.
“We fear that smart meters will increase our electricity bills, which many families here cannot afford,” one of the protesters said, amid prevailing economic constraints.
The demonstrators also raised concerns over the absence of prior awareness campaigns explaining how the meters function and how charges would be calculated.
“No one explained how these meters work or how billing will change. Such decisions should not be imposed without consulting people,” another participant said.
The protesters urged the Power Development Department to publicly address their apprehensions before proceeding further. They also appealed to the district administration to review the installation process, warning that the agitation would intensify if their concerns were ignored.
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