The CPI(M) staged a major protest in Agartala on August 17 against abnormally high electricity bills, steep tariff increases and the forced installation of smart meters, warning the Tripura government that people would not tolerate the use of technology to mislead or exploit consumers.

Addressing a protest meeting outside the headquarters of the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited at Bhuturia, former electricity minister and CPI(M) Central Committee member Manik Dey rejected Electricity Minister Ratan Lal Nath’s recent remarks on the issue as misleading and confusing. “We are not against technology. But if technology is used to deceive and exploit people, it will not be allowed,” Dey said, arguing that the government must take responsibility for smart meters, including faulty meters and discrepancies in bills.

The protest march, organised by the CPI(M) Sadar Sub-Divisional Committee, began near Vivekananda Stadium and proceeded to the electricity corporation’s headquarters. Protesters carrying red flags raised slogans against the government over rising electricity charges, alleged irregularities and the installation of smart meters. The meeting was presided over by Natraj Dutta, state secretary of the Electricity Consumers and Employees Association. Besides Dey, CPI(M) Sadar Sub-Divisional Committee secretary Amal Chakraborty and party leader Jhalak Mukherjee addressed the gathering.

Dey said the electricity corporation was not running at a loss during the 2017-18 financial year. According to him, its income and expenditure were balanced and it had substantial fixed deposits. He alleged that the corporation had accumulated liabilities of around Rs 1,200-1,400 crore over the past seven to eight years, based on figures provided by the corporation itself. “The government must take responsibility for this failure. Administrative inefficiency cannot be imposed on the people,” he said.

Dey also compared the present electricity situation with that during the Left Front government. He said Tripura had then been among the leading states in electricity generation and that load-shedding had virtually disappeared. Power generated at Baramura, Rokhia and Dumbur using the state’s natural gas, along with generation at Palatana and power from Monarchak, had helped meet the state’s requirements and enabled Tripura to sell electricity to Bangladesh and other states, he said. He questioned why the state’s own generation capacity had subsequently declined and demanded an explanation from the Electricity Department.

On smart meters, Dey said the Left Front government had itself introduced a limited number of smart meters experimentally in Agartala in accordance with World Bank conditions. However, he stressed that those meters were under government control. “If the government is installing smart meters now, let it announce that it will remain responsible for them. If a meter breaks down, the government should take responsibility. If there are discrepancies in the bill, the government should also take responsibility,” he said.

Dey further claimed that opposition to smart meters was being voiced in different parts of the country. He referred to the BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh and said that the Union power minister had recently stated in Parliament that smart meters were not mandatory. “If smart meters are not mandatory, why are they being imposed on people?” he asked, alleging that the move was aimed at paving the way for privatisation of the electricity sector.

“Technology in the public interest will be supported. But technology cannot be used to benefit corporates and loot the people,” Dey said, calling for a broader movement against policies that he described as anti-people and pro-corporate.

Amal Chakraborty said the electricity bill had become one of the biggest problems facing people across Tripura. He alleged that the issue affected consumers irrespective of their political affiliation. He also accused the BJP government of facilitating the expansion of corporate interests and called for intensifying the political struggle against the government.

Jhalak Mukherjee said the electricity crisis was a common problem for people across political lines. He alleged that unemployment, inadequate prices for farmers, poor healthcare, deteriorating roads and rising electricity costs were collectively increasing people’s hardships.

DEMONSTRATION IN PECHARTHAL

Meanwhile, consumers staged a major protest outside the office of the senior manager of the electricity department at Pecharthal in North Tripura. The demonstration, which began in the afternoon of August 17, escalated at one point to the verge of a confrontation, prompting police from Pecharthal police station to reach the spot.

Angry consumers blocked the national highway in front of the police. More than 500 people from the block area reportedly joined the protest, demanding withdrawal of abnormal electricity charges and removal of smart meters. Several protesters criticised the electricity minister over what they described as irresponsible statements on the issue.

The protesters also carried the old black electricity meters used during the Left Front government and demanded that such meters be brought back. They called for the removal of smart meters, withdrawal of increased electricity tariffs and improvement of the power supply system. Residents said the area had been suffering from electricity-related problems for nearly eight years and that unusually high bills had been arriving for about a year. They questioned how such large bills could be generated despite frequent load-shedding and prolonged power cuts.

After 5 pm, the corporation’s deputy general manager arrived from Kumarghat and held talks with a delegation of the protesters. The delegation also raised complaints against several staff members and demanded withdrawal of additional charges being added to electricity bills. The DGM sought 10 days to examine the complaints and appealed to the protesters to withdraw the agitation. Following the assurance, the consumers called off the protest.

Similar protests had recently taken place at electricity department offices in Kumarghat and Kanchanbari. At Kanchanbari, consumers also blocked the road as part of their agitation.

Across the state, protests have intensified amid growing public anger over rising electricity bills, smart meter installation and deterioration in power services.