Tanveer Hussain
Beerwah, Feb 10 : Women inhabitants of Beerwah on Tuesday staged a fresh protest against the Power Development Department over the installation of smart meters and prolonged power-related issues, blocking the Beerwah Magam road to voice their resentment over erratic electricity supply.
Raising slogans against the government and the department, the protesting women alleged that repeated assurances have failed to translate into relief on the ground. They said frequent power cuts, coupled with the push for smart meters, have aggravated their difficulties, especially during harsh weather conditions.
The protesters said irregular electricity supply has severely disrupted daily life, affecting household work and children’s education. They warned that the agitation would be intensified if authorities failed to take immediate corrective steps and address public concerns linked to smart meters.
During the protest, women raised slogans demanding relief and justice, stating that they belonged to poor households with limited income. Some protesters also openly opposed the installation of smart meters, declaring that they would not allow them to be installed in their locality.
The road blockade caused temporary disruption to traffic, leading to inconvenience for commuters. Later, officials reached the spot and assured the protesters that their grievances would be examined. Following these assurances, the protest was peacefully called off.
The women demanded immediate restoration of regular power supply and urged the government to take concrete measures to resolve long-pending electricity issues faced by locals in the area. [KNT]
