Uttarakhand: Chaos over smart prepaid meter, department in action, made this plan
Smart prepaid meters are being opposed in many states of the country. Uttarakhand is also not untouched by this. For two days, public representatives in many areas of Kumaon are continuously opposing the installation of these meters. Congress MLA Tilak Raj Behad has protested by throwing these smart prepaid meters on the road. After continuous protests, now the Energy Corporation is trying to take new action in this direction.
Why is smart prepaid meter being opposed?
Kichha MLA Tilak Raj Behad says that these meters will become a burden on the people. To benefit some people, the government has started installing these meters in people’s homes. At many places, these meters are giving bills even without electricity. In such a situation, this new conspiracy is being hatched to rob the poor people with smart meters. The MLA threatened that if smart prepaid meters are installed in his area, there will be a big movement. Even if he has to go to jail for this. However, after the MLA’s protest, the work of installing meters in the surrounding areas has been completely stopped for the time being.
How many meters will be installed in the state
Actually, the ministry of the central government had recently announced the installation of smart prepaid meters. Under which this meter is to be installed in 15.87 lakh houses across the state. The Energy Department says that by installing the meter, the consumer will have the convenience that he will be able to recharge the electricity from his mobile itself. Not only this, how much electricity is the consumer consuming? Its information will also be updated continuously on his mobile. What is the shortage in the electricity bill? How much extra money is coming? The consumer will also have direct information about this.
But now the way the news of protest is coming from Uttarakhand as well as other states of the country, after this UPCL has taken a new step in this matter. UPCL MD Anil Kumar said that we are forming a team at the headquarters level. The job of this team will be to go to different places and tell the consumers about the specialty of this smart prepaid meter and keep them away from false propaganda.
Meters will be installed in these areas in the first phase
Let us tell you that the work of smart prepaid meters has been given to Adani Energy Solution Company. In the first phase, the work of installing these meters is being done in the Terai region and rural areas of Uttarakhand. Along with this, in the mountainous region, these meters will be installed only in the city headquarters.
Public questions
After continuous confusion and heavy opposition among the people, UPCL has put a brake on the installation of smart meters for the time being. Wherever the meters will be installed or are being installed, these meters will work only on postpaid mode for now. People will only get electricity bills. Until people agree with the department and the confusion ends, the department will work on this mode.
