Report by Kamgar Ekta Committee (KEC) correspondent
Electricity consumers in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra came out on the street in large numbers to oppose the installation of smart meters. In Kolhapur and other places in Maharashtra, old meters are being forcefully replaced with smart meters or smart prepaid meters under one or the other pretext. Consumers and activists of a political, not in government, gathered at the Mahavitaran office near Tarabai Park to oppose this move.
The protesting consumers planned to submit an appeal to the Chief Engineer. Their appeal stated that of the 12.5 lakh electricity consumers in Kolhapur, 9.4 lakhs are residential consumers. The people are already struggling with inflation, and mandatory smart meter installation is an additional burden on them. When the Chief Engineer refused to step out of the office to meet the consumers, they forcefully entered the Mahavitaran office, obliging him to accept their appeal.
Upon entering, consumers found that some employees of Adani had been given space within the Mahavitaran office to manage smart and prepaid meters. Angered by this, consumers asked why these employees were allowed to set up office here. They removed Adani’s employees and locked their office space.
The premises of the Mahavitaran office resounded with slogans of “Adani Go Back! Do not force smart meter installation!” This protest received solidarity from the Maharashtra State Electricity Workers’ Federation, gram panchayats of Arjunwada and Vadange, and Dalap Kandap Mill Owners’ Organisation.