Women Protest in G’bal’s Gadoora Against Smart Meter Installation
Srinagar : Tension flared in the Gadoora area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Monday as scores of women took to the streets to protest against the ongoing installation of smart electricity meters by the Power Development Department (PDD).
The protesters, chanting slogans, accused the authorities of imposing an “anti-people” move that would disproportionately affect poor households. They blocked local roads for some time, demanding that the government immediately halt the installation drive.
Several women alleged that the smart meters would lead to inflated power bills and worsen the financial burden on low-income families. “We were assured that smart meters would not be installed forcibly, but the administration has failed to keep its word,” said one of the protesters.
The demonstrators also expressed disappointment with the National Conference (NC)-led administration, claiming they had voted for the party expecting relief from such measures.
Urging the Lieutenant Governor’s administration and the NC leadership to intervene, the protesters appealed for reconsideration of the decision “in the larger interest of common people.”
