ITANAGAR, Oct 2: Residents of Banderdewa circle on Friday opposed the recently introduced smart meter and prepaid, recharge-based electricity billing system, citing alleged increases in power bills and difficulties in accessing digital payment facilities.
A public meeting was held at Banderdewa Nyokum Ground following an emergency gathering of residents, with Panchayat members, IMC representatives, community leaders, senior citizens and student representatives participating.
The meeting was attended by ZPM Biri Tamin, IMC Corporator of Ward No. 20 Kipa Uruni, Bazaar Welfare Committee chairman Patey Taha, Power Department JE Gyamar Siram, Banderdewa OC Kipa Hamak, senior citizen Neelam Tang, and other public representatives.
Former IMC corporator and meeting chairman AK Loram said residents were seeking restoration of the conventional billing system. He pointed out that many households in Banderdewa comprise BPL families and daily wage earners who may face difficulties with digital payments and recharge-based electricity services.
Taha claimed that some consumers had experienced a significant increase in bills following the installation of smart meters. He said bills that earlier averaged around Rs 500 had risen to about Rs 1,200 for some consumers in September.
He also said the prepaid system could create difficulties for households with irregular incomes, particularly when the prepaid balance is exhausted. He urged the authorities to consider local socio-economic conditions while implementing the system.
Power Department JE Gyamar Siram explained the new metering and billing mechanism and responded to queries raised during the meeting. He said the issues raised by the residents would be conveyed through the appropriate departmental channel.
Corporator Kipa Uruni said residents had expressed a preference for the conventional billing system and that their concerns regarding smart meters, increased bills and digital recharge requirements would be taken up with the higher authorities.
Senior citizen Neelam Tang and All Banderdewa Circle Students’ Union president Cello Tachung also called for wider public consultation on the new system.
Following the meeting, residents submitted a memorandum to Uruni and Tamin, seeking a review of the smart meter and prepaid billing system and consideration of a simpler billing mechanism suited to local socio-economic conditions and digital accessibility.