SRINAGAR: Normal life was affected as protests were held on Saturday on Jammu-Pathankot National Highway and parts of Jammu region observed shutdown against the installation of Smart Meters and removal of Toll Post at Sarore in Samba district.

The day-long shutdown call was announced by the Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI) Jammu and was supported by various political, religious and social organisations barring the Bhartiya Janata Party.
The protestors also demanded immediate ‘unconditional’ release of detained activists of Yuva Rajput Sabha spearheading the agitation demanding removal of Toll Plaza in view of poor road condition and damaged Tarnah Nullah bridge in Dayalachak on Jammu-Pathankot national highway.
Supporting the Jammu Bandh, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference termed it as completely successful and said that anguished by the anti-people policies adopted by Union Government’s proxy governmentt in J&K the people are anxiously waiting for the elections to teach the Saffron party a lesson.

National Conference Provincial President Rattan Lal Gupta stated that the incumbent BJP Governmentt at the Centre and the J&K UT Administration have crossed all limits in going ahead with atrocious anti-people policies.

He said that people are fed up with this unacceptable approach and attitude of the Administration and added that people of J&K will no longer tolerate such policies and approaches.

Various markets in Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur, Rajouri and Samba wore a deserted look except the shops of dairy products and medicines which were open.

The transporters are also likely to announce ‘chakak jam’ on August 31 in support of the demands and release of YRS leaders.

A group of YRS members were also detained for blocking the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Udhampur town.
On Friday, Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar along with Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Jammu Zone Mukesh Singh addressing a press conference clarified the reasons for occasional high bills stating that any discrepancies in bills were due to past pending amounts and assured that the new system’s bill cycle has been rectified.
He also assured people about the efficiency of smart meters, while listing the steps taken by the administration to dispel the doubts of consumers regarding the accuracy of power consumption readings.

Meanwhile Singh said the YRS activists were detained for “breach of peace” and will be released only if any “prominent person” guarantees on their behalf that they would not repeat such an offence.

President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jammu, Arun Gupta in a statement expressed thanks to all the organizations including J&K High Court Bar Association Jammu and the business community from all over Jammu Province for their wholehearted and overwhelming support to Jammu Bandh by keeping their business establishments closed on the call of CCI, thus supporting the cause of Jammu.

Gupta said that the traders body believes in open dialogue with all the stakeholders but in view of the adamant approach of UT Administration J&K, after discussions with different Associations and in consultation with J&K High Court Bar Association, Jammu, a one-day Jammu Bandh was organized to press the government to understand the gravity of the situation and wake up from the deep slumber and take proactive approach to address the pressing genuine issues of halting installation of smart meters and prepaid meters and suspension of Toll Plaza at Sarore as these issues are of paramount importance. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: The Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI) Jammu on Thursday gave a one-day call for Jammu shutdown against smart meters installation and continuation of Sarore Toll Post on Jammu-Pathankot national highway in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir.

“During a meeting with various market and trade associations, we have announced one day Jammu Bandh on Saturday (August 26),” the CCI president Arun Gupta here told reporters.

He said that during the meeting the issues regarding Installation of Smart Meters by PDD and subsequently switching over to pre-paid system of billing and Toll Plaza at Sarore were discussed.

Gupta said that the members were apprised that the issues were already taken up with the concerned authorities.

“We voiced that installation of smart meters should be stopped immediately as the digital meters were functioning properly and smoothly,” he said adding that regarding the toll plaza the issue is highlighted and till the damaged bridge of Taranah Nallah on National Highway is completely restored and the damaged roads are repaired and made fully operational, the toll tax collection be kept in abeyance.

“We had also requested the Lieutenant Governor to give appointment to discuss these issues,” he added and said that the members expressed their anger over the installation of Smart Meters and functioning at Toll Plaza at Sarore and were of the opinion that ‘Jammu Bandh’ is the only solution to get the demands issues resolved.

The members with one voice extended full support to Jammu Bandh, he added. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: Directing for timely billing of all smart metered consumers and setting up of helpline numbers to address complaints, Jammu Power Development Corporation Limited (JPDCL) Managing Director Shiv Anant Tayal instructed the project implementation agency to replace all the damaged smart meters in one week.

Charing a meeting regarding installation of smart meters in Jammu and the issues faced by people, Tayal directed the engineers and project implementation agency to mitigate the problems of the people regarding smart meters and told them to address all issues regarding smart meters on priority basis.

He asked the engineers to depute linemen and meter reading staff along with a smart meter installation team to educate people about the benefits of smart meters and ensure that installation work is carried out smoothly without any flaws and issues.

The meeting was attended by Chief Engineer Distribution Sandeep Seth, Superintending Engineer Jammu Rajinder Gupta among other senior officers of JPDCL and representatives of project implementation agency RECPDCL.
The senior officials of JPDCL apprised the Managing Director regarding delay in billing after installation of smart meters.
The MD issued on the spot instructions to the Project implementation agency and private vendors to ensure timely billing failing which action shall be initiated against the vendors.

He also directed the concerned engineers to immediately set up Helpline numbers for resolution of smart meters related complaints at Sub-divisional level.
Tayal urged the general public to use star rated gadgets and appliances at their homes to reduce the monthly consumption and save electricity.

He also urged the public to switch off the main switch while leaving their respective households since electricity is utilized by inverters and step up transformers used by various households.

The MD requested the public to support the department in installation of smart meters so that better services can be provided.

He cautioned people against fake electricity disconnection messages and said that JPDCL doesn’t send any disconnection messages so people should remain vigilant against such fraud messages. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: Divisional Commissioner, Ramesh Kumar, today chaired a meeting to discuss and address the public concerns surrounding smart Power meters in the division. In an effort to dispel doubts and foster clarity, the meeting was convened with representatives from the civil society, including Industries and Traders associations of the city.

One of the key points of contention discussed in the meeting was the installation of smart meters, with doubts arising about their functionality and reliability. During the session, the doubts were effectively addressed and explanations were provided to allay concerns.

The Div Com, considering the concerns raised by the civil society members, proposed a solution wherein he directed JPDCL to conduct a trial run by installing digital meters in parallel with the smart meters in specific locations to verify the readings for the satisfaction of the public. This trial phase aims to ascertain the accuracy and authenticity of readings produced by the newly installed smart meters.

Another major concern brought to the attention was that the meters are mounted at much height on electricity poles, sometimes clustered together, making it difficult for the consumers to examine the readings .

Responding to the issue, the Div Com instructed the JPDCL to explore possibilities to decrease the height or install meters on walls of the consumers.

The Managing Director JPDCL also apprised about the benefits and operation of these smart meters, while shedding light on their accuracy and efficiency. He also cleared the doubts, queries raised by the presidents of market associations.

The Divisional Commissioner assured all stakeholders that the introduction of smart meters is an initiative intended to usher in a new era of transparency and precision in power consumption measurement. The ultimate goal is to facilitate error-free readings and ensure the proper utilisation of electricity while collecting revenue in a just and genuine manner, he emphasised.

The Div Com also directed JPDCL to notify helpline numbers to address the distress calls regarding smart meters and redress issues promptly. He also asked for a regular review of the functioning of the control rooms, Helpline numbers.

The Div Com also assured the civil society that JPDCL officials will be designated for installation of meters to redress issues on the spot.

The meeting was attended by DIG, Shakti Pathak; MD JPDCL, Shivanant Tayal; Chief Engineer JPDCL, Sandeep Seth; ADC Jammu, Harvinder Singh; SSP Jammu, Chandan Kohli; besides Presidents along with members of Industries and Traders associations. (GNS)

: Electricity was snapped in the Batamaloo area of Srinagar city after locals staged a protest against the installation of Smart Meters on Tuesday morning.

Local sources told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that a large number of locals from Ziyarat Batamaloo Sahab hit to roads and stopped KPDCL men from getting the Smart Meters installed in the area.

As a reaction, the electricity as per the locals was snapped and they are without the power supply since morning.

One of the locals said that the electricity was snapped shortly after the protest.

Consumers in Srinagar city are up in arms against the Kashmir Power Distribution Company Limited. Everywhere in Srinagar city, the installation of Smart Meters have triggered protests, however, authorities are unmoved and continue to install the Smart Meters.

"People are ready to pay a fixed amount on monthly basis and can’t afford the fatty bills generated by these Smart Meters. Nobody is here to listen to us,” said a female protester adding they can’t afford fatty bills.

The protesters who blocked traffic near the bus stand in Batamaloo said that the government is seeking pleasure in sucking the blood of poverty-ridden people. “There should be an objective and balanced approach. Affluent ones should be charged on the basis of Smart meters but those living below the poverty line should be exempted. This is a vicious form of social discrimination,” they said. (KNT)

SRINAGAR: Gojwara and its adjoining areas in old Srinagar city amid massive protest observed a shutdown against the installation of smart meters.

A large number of men and women hit to roads and expressed resentment against the government’s move to install smart meters which according to protesters are the source of fatty power bills.

The protesters blocked the traffic and shopkeepers downed their shutters. The protesters raised slogans against the implementation of the Smart City project and slammed the power department.

“This power is generated on our rivers. The government is sending it to outside states. Then they increase tariffs here to buy power. How can we pay Rs 3,000- 5,000 bill for smart meters,” said an angry woman protester. Another protester said that they are poor people and can’t afford to live without using electric devices in the kitchen.

The protesters said that the generation of revenue through the installation of smart meters is yet another tactic to harass people. “There is so much inflation. Youth are jobless. A cooking gas cylinder costs Rs1,250, kerosene is Rs100 per liter and there is no timber and ration at depots. We can’t afford to buy gas cylinders, from where we will bring money for huge power bills. They are killing poor people like us,” the agitated protesters said.

The protesters slammed the J&K administration officials and bureaucrats saying they can’t use fans for their children in this scorching heat and officials live lavishly in AC offices and houses.

The protesters threatened to intensify their protests on a daily basis if the Power Development Department doesn’t shelve the idea of the installation of smart meters. [KNT]