Scores of power consumers held a protest here on Wednesday against the decision of the Jammu and Kashmir administration to install prepaid smart meters.
The protesters also blocked the highway for nearly two hours, alleging that smart meter users in Jammu were receiving exorbitant bills amounting to thousands of rupees.
Meanwhile, officials said two smart meters installed by the Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd (JPDCL) caught fire in Dontallah Bazar and Pir Mitha areas in the city under circumstances raising suspicions.
People hailing from different parts of the city travelled to Vikram Chowk in mini-buses. Their assembly led to the highway being obstructed. During the protest, anti-BJP and anti-administration slogans were chanted, and a demand was made to halt the ongoing meter installation exercise.
“We are demanding the process to install pre-paid smart meters as people, on whose houses smart meters have been implemented, are getting bills in thousands of rupees, said Amit Kapoor, who led the protest.
Police responded by using force to return the protesters to the mini-buses, subsequently restoring traffic flow.
