PrashantNews
After Bihar and other states, the opposition against the installation of prepaid electricity meters in Uttarakhand has gained momentum.
An “Adani bhagao, Uttarakhand bachao” campaign is on in Kumaon region of Uttarakhand where a host of Congress leaders led by Kichcha MLA Tilak Raj Behad have strongly started opposing the move of the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL), the state power utility, to install 15.82 lakh prepaid electricity meters in the hill state.
In a recent viral video, Behad is also seen smashing a prepaid electricity meter in Kichcha in Uttarakhand. “I will not allow these meters to be installed in my constituency,” Behad declared.
Behad said he would also “take out a symbolic funeral procession” of Gautam Adani next Monday on the issue.
After the video went viral, a host of Congress leaders have started opposing the installation of the prepaid meters in the hill state. “We are strongly against the installation of prepaid meters as they will put heavy financial burden on the people. The government is trying to provide benefit to Adani by installing these meters,” said Karan Mahra, state Congress President.
Former state Congress chief Pritam Singh said he would raise the issue in the coming session of the Vidhan Sabha.
State congress vice president Suryakant Dhasmana said installing prepaid meters was a first step toward “handing over” the power sector to the Adani Group.
Meanwhile, the UPCL has defended its decision saying it wants to modernize the power system. Through these meters, the consumers will track their usage pattern and adjust their consumption, UPCL said.