Shopian, Nov 26: The residents of Watchi area in South Kashmir’s Shopian district have expressed strong resentment over the ongoing installation of smart electricity meters, saying the government has failed to upgrade the decades-old power infrastructure that continues to put them at risk and leave them without reliable supply.
Locals alleged that while officials are rushing to install smart meters across the area, the electric poles, wires and transmission lines remain outdated and dangerously weak.
“We are not against smart meters,” Ghulam Rasool, a local resident said. “But what is the logic of installing expensive meters when the poles here are still wooden and the wires can snap anytime? First strengthen the infrastructure and then talk about metering.”
Another resident, Abdul Majeed, pointed towards a leaning wooden electric pole outside his house. “This pole has been like this for years. Every winter we fear it will collapse. If the government has money for smart meters, why not for proper poles and strong cables?” he asked.
Residents said the problem worsens in harsh weather conditions when low-quality transmission lines get damaged, plunging the village into frequent outages.
“Smart meters will not stop the power from tripping,” said Misra Bano, another local. “We need a stable power supply, not devices that only record consumption more accurately. Electricity first, metering later.”
Villagers said they have repeatedly approached the Power Development Department (PDD) for replacement of wooden poles and damaged wires but claim their pleas have gone unheard.
They appealed to the administration to take note and address the infrastructural shortcomings before pushing ahead with the metering process.
“We want development, but it should be meaningful and safe. Upgrading the infrastructure should be the first priority,” the residents added—(KNO)
