Gadchiroli Sept. 5 (District Correspondent) The workers of Kisan Sabha staged demonstrations in front of Deputy Engineer MSEDCL office Armori on Thursday in protest against smart pre-paid electric meter scheme.
The workers shouted slogans against the MSEDCL plan to install the smart pre-paid electric meters and demanded early cancellation of this plan.
Smart electric meters are being installed in every household by replacing the old meters. Those who have these new meters are being charged bills of much more amount than before. Due to this, consumers are suffering a lot, said Dr. Mahesh Kopulwar, Working President of Maharashtra State Kisan Sabha speaking on the occasion.
Even though the bills for these meters are being distributed today, in the future, electricity will have to be used by recharging like mobile phones and this is going to be a headache for common consumers. According to the tender approved by Mahavitaran Company, the cost of these smart meters is Rs. 12,000 per meter. And this will be recovered from the consumers thereby putting extra financial burden on them, Kopulwar pointed out.
For executing the new scheme, the loan borrowed by Mahavitaran Company and the interest on it will be recovered from the pockets of all consumers. Due to this, electricity rates will also be increased. Today, consumers are already suffering from the heavy electricity bills, this expensive electricity is not affordable for common consumers. Therefore, smart, prepaid meters should not be installed without the consent of the customers, he demanded. The current postpaid meters should be continued as well, he also demanded.
A memorandum in this regard along with personal applications were submitted stating that the smart prepaid electric meter is invalid. A strong demand was made not to forcefully install these meters.
This protest was led by Dr. Mahesh Kopulwar and Devrao Chavde. Mr. Prakash Khobragade, Meenakshi Selokar, Vinod Zodge, Sanjay Wakde, Dinesh Dumane, Laxman Zarkar Maruti Narule, Trimbakrao Raut, Haridas Nikure, Vinod Ramteke, Rishi Ramteke, Sitaram Jengate, Ishwar Bavane, Rohidas Sahare, Manoj Damle, Ambadas Sahare, Atmaram Gawande, Yashwant Vanjare, Suresh Shambharkar, Domaji Sahare, Haridas Mendhe, Kusubai Meshram, Nepal Banker, Chandradutt Mate and others participated in the agitation.
