Farmers Movement Archive

Samyukt Kisan Morcha activists oppose move to install prepaid smart electricity meters

Mandi Ahmedgarh, Sept 29Activists of various constituents of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) have started opposing the government’s move to install prepaid smart electricity meters with advanced metering infrastructure by replacing present postpaid meters for consumption of electricity by various categories of consumers of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited in the region.A team of employees deployed by the PSPCL authorities to install smart meters at Dehlon village in Ludhiana district, near here, was gheraoed. They were returned by the activists, led by Harnek Singh Dhaliwal, without executing their assignment.Labelling the installation of smart meters as another step towards privatisation, the activists of various outfits, led by Shaheed Bhagat Singh Naujawan Sabha general secretary, claimed that members of the team, which came to replace old meters with new smart meters, were asked not to implement the new system till the farmers were struggling for repeal of the three farm laws and amended electricity laws.“As we understand that the team had come to install smart meters in compliance with orders of their seniors, we asked them politely to return without making any changes in the presentsystem,” said Dhaliwal, maintaining that the employees were later felicitated by the protesters.All India Kisan Sabha leader Baldev Singh Latala said the PSPCL authorities were bent upon rubbing salt on wounds of small and marginal farmers by implementing privatisation step by step when they (farmers) were struggling for saving means of their survival. “But we have decided that we will not allow the authorities to replace old meters with smart meters and we have constituted special teams of our activists which will gherao any employee coming for the purpose to our localities,” said Latala.It was learnt that all additional superintendents of the region had been advised to expedite the process for installation of the smart meters. Though no deadline was fixed for private consumers so far, the authorities have given a target to install the new prepaid meters at all government offices by October 31.

The Tribune

2021-09-30