KO photo by Abid Bhat
Srinagar- Scores of residents in Rainawari area in the old city hit streets against the installation of smart-meters in the area.
The protestors, mainly women folk, chanted slogans against PDD demanding immediate halt to installation of smart-meters in the area and restore the electricity, which according to them was snapped, a day earlier.
The protestors blocked the main road near JLNM Hospital that severely hampered traffic movement on the busy road for a few hours.
“We have already installed the meters in our houses and now they are asking us to install these in our shops”, a woman protester said adding “We had protested against the move yesterday also, following which the authorities snapped the electricity to the area.”
“We request the government not to install any more meters in our area and remove those already installed here”, they said adding “We will pay as per our consumption but only want these smart meters to be removed from here.”
“We have been protesting for a long time now, but no one is listening to us”, they lamented.
Few people from administration later on visited the site to pacify the protesters following which the latter dispersed peacefully.
When contacted, Chief Engineer KPDCL said that the electricity will be restored once the inhabitants allow them to install smart meters. “The way these smart meters are to be installed across Kashmir, likewise will be installed in Rainawari also”, he said.
Meanwhile, SHO Rainawari Syed Junaid said that the protestors dispersed peacefully after a police team visited the site.
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