The residents of Bongam in main town Shopian on Saturday protested and blocked Shopian-Srinagar road against the installation of smart meters by the Power Development Department (PDD).
As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the protestors demanded that the installation of smart meters should be stopped and those installed should be removed.
Protesters warned that if the government didn’t take its decision back, then every resident of the area would come on the road to protest against the decision.
Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) the protesters said, “We hardly earn Rs 100 to 150 per day, how can we afford electricity bills after privatization.”
“Only lower middle class reside in this area. The government must rethink before putting one more burden on us,” they said.
The protesters said that the Covid-19 and uncertain situation in Kashmir had affected the life of a common man who isn’t in a condition to bear the extra brunt.
The protesters, mainly women, appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to remove the newly installed smart electric meters in the area as the locality cannot afford the high tariff.
Meanwhile, residents of Chotipora Sedow in Shopian district against Jal Shakti Department for failing to provide drinking water in the area.
They staged protests and raised slogans against the department while demanding the attention of higher ups in this regard.
They said that we have brought this issue in notice of higher ups several times but to no avail.
They requested higher ups to look into the matter at an earliest so that they can heave a sigh of relief—(KNO)