Assam's Kaliabor residents protest against APDCL smart meters, demand rollback

Protests have intensified in Assam's Kaliabor district as local residents, led by the Block Congress Committees of Kaliabor and West Kaliabor, along with a group of women, have staged demonstrations against the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited's (APDCL) installation of smart meters. 

Protesters are demanding a rollback to the old digital meters, claiming that the new smart meters have resulted in inflated electricity bills.

The protests, which have drawn significant participation from the community, were held at the office of the manager of the Kaliabor sub-division. 

Demonstrators expressed their frustration, alleging that the smart meters are registering higher consumption, leading to larger bills compared to the previous digital meters.

Residents argue that since the installation of the smart meters, they have noticed a significant increase in their electricity bills. 

Many allege that the new technology is not only unreliable but also a financial burden on the common people, who are already struggling with rising costs of living. 

Some protesters carried banners and shouted slogans demanding immediate action from the authorities to address their grievances.