Digital meters row: Tata Power staff stopped from entering village in Ganjam

Tension prevailed high at Mantapoda village under Aska police limits in Ganjam district after hundreds of villagers stopped the entry of Tata Power employees who were on their way to the village to install digital meters.

Fed up with alleged apathy of the discom, the villagers demanded that Tata Power first fix all the existing problems before they allow the installation of the new digital meters. Apart from a transformer lying in open, posing threat to public, the villagers demanded the replacement of all the electric poles that are on the verge of collapse and demanded a written undertaking about unscheduled power cuts.

“Our main concern is unscheduled frequent power cuts. This year, they snapped the electricity supply for hours together even during 50 degree Celsius temperature. Despite repeated complaints, they turned a deaf ear to our pleas,” alleged Purna Barad, former sarpanch of the village.

He further said, “Moreover, the transformer in our village is lying in open, posing threat to the public. So, we requested them to repair the transformer and ensure safety of the villagers. We also requested to end the frequent power cuts and bring an end to unnecessary hike in electricity bills. They should also replace the electric poles lying dangerously before we allow them to install the new digital meters.”

Despite the intervention of the local police, the villagers stood firm on their demands, insisting no power department personnel would be granted access until their concerns were addressed. With no other option left, both the Tata Power worker and the police had to leave the premises without accomplishing their intended task.

Villagers expressed dissatisfaction with the condition of power infrastructure in their village, frequent power cuts and dangerously high electric bills, emphasising the need for functional transformers to ensure steady electricity supply. 

“We are not okay if they overcharge us by installing pre-determined smart meters. They are charging us between Rs 800-1000 and sometimes the bill reaches Rs 1200-1500. They have completely exploited us by extracting so much money from us,” alleged the village president, Gajapati Nahak.

Reported By: Rajat Kumar Panda