Gorakhpur: Samajwadi Party workers on Saturday staged a protest in Gorakhpur against installation of smart electricity meters across the city. Raising slogans against BJP govt and power department officials, the demonstrators accused authorities of burdening consumers with inflated bills. The protest was led by the party’s city president Shabbir Qureshi.Holding banners and placards, SP workers voiced their opposition, dubbing the devices as “blood-sucking meters” and alleging that they are being used to financially exploit the public. Qureshi said party workers marched to the DM office and submitted a memorandum addressed to the Governor. He alleged a “smart meter scam” was being driven in collusion of power department and private firms. Warning of intensified agitation, he said the party would launch a bigger movement if the issue is not addressed.SP leader Kajal Nishad targeted BJP govt and electricity department, claiming that smart meters are being installed deceitfully. “There are reports that even running a fan and a light is resulting in monthly bill exceeding Rs 5,000 and people across UP are distressed,” she said.The party demanded scrapping of prepaid smart meters and restoration of postpaid billing to provide relief to consumers. SP leaders claimed that households earlier receiving bills of around Rs 1,000 are now having to spend up to Rs 5,000 by using smart meters. According to the party, over 2–2.5 lakh smart meters have already been installed in Gorakhpur, fuelling public resentment. It alleged that converting postpaid connections into prepaid ones without consumer consent violates Section 47(5) of the Electricity Act, 2003 and termed it a form of “digital exploitation”.The SP further claimed that nearly 85 lakh smart meters are being installed across the state, increasing the financial burden on citizens. The party has demanded CBI probe into the matter and immediate rollback of the prepaid meter policy.“We will not tolerate this ‘digital loot’ and If govt fails to act, we will be forced to take to streets and launch a mass movement,” said Qureshi.
