Photo Courtesy: tripuratimes
Agartala: Tripura Congress officials slammed the state government on Wednesday over the troubled rollout of smart electric meters. Party spokesperson Prabir Chakraborty told reporters at the Pradesh Congress Bhavan in Agartala that consumers face massive, unexplained spikes in power bills following the installations. The party now demands an immediate stop to these extra charges and a formal investigation into the billing process.
Chakraborty alleged that the BJP-led government is using modernization as a mask to hike costs for everyday households. He questioned the accuracy of the new devices, noting that many residents report soaring costs despite keeping their usage patterns steady. He pointed to his own home as an example, confirming he received an unusually high bill that he is currently investigating for errors. The spokesperson insisted that technology should lower costs rather than drive them up. "The use of technology is not the issue. Technology should make the system more transparent, efficient and affordable for people," he said.
The Congress demands a full public breakdown of consumption records from both before and after the meter switches. They want an independent body to check the meters for technical faults. Chakraborty specifically attacked Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath, accusing him of pushing false propaganda regarding the supposed benefits of the new system.
High-ranking party members, including SC Department chairman Niranjan Das and Sadar district president Tanmoy Roy, joined the call for action. They warned that these inflated bills have triggered significant public resentment. The party maintains that it supports power sector improvements only if those changes offer genuine relief to the public rather than financial stress.
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