Vadodara: The protest against smart meters, which originated in the western part of the city, is now gradually spreading citywide. Today, residents of the Sama and Alkapuri areas staged a protest at the offices of Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Limited (MGVCL), demanding the removal of new smart meters and the reinstallation of old ones.

MGVCL has been installing new smart electricity meters in Vadodara city. So far, 27,440 new smart meters have been installed in 12 subdivisions, with 15,000 currently active. The installation of smart meters began in January under the RDSS scheme of the Government of India in the MGVCL area.

As the protest against these smart meters entered its fourth day, residents of Saraswati, Akashganga, Sundarban, Dada Park, Jawahar Park, and Jadav Park Societies on New Sama Road in Ward No. 2 gathered at the Sama branch of MGVCL, creating an uproar at the divisional office. Despite the intense heat, people sat on the ground and chanted slogans. Similarly, electricity consumers from various societies in the Alkapuri area went to the Alkapuri electricity office, chanting slogans demanding the return of the old meters.

Protesters explained that while their bill for two months with the old meters was Rs 3,600, they now need to recharge Rs 2,000 every ten days with the new smart meters. They argued that they could not afford to recharge Rs 1,000-1,500 every two or three days. Aggrieved people sat on the ground outside the GEB office in the scorching heat, chanting Ramdhun and demanding the removal of new smart meters and the reinstallation of old ones.

Amid the ongoing protests, MGVCL MD Tejas Parmar stated on Thursday that these smart meters function the same as normal meters and are calculated in the same way. The difference lies in communication; the old meters did not transmit data, so readings had to be taken manually every two months. He further explained that smart meters can transmit readings every half hour through an app. Residential customers will be transitioned to smart meters gradually. Approximately 33 lakh meters are to be installed in central Gujarat over the next two years. DeshGujarat