HT Correspondent
GOSSAIGAON, Sept 7: Power consumers in the Gossaigaon sub-division of Kokrajhar district took to the streets to protest against frequent power outages and continuous electricity price hikes. They gathered in front of the Sub-Divisional Electricity Office (SDEO) in Gossaigaon, holding banners and placards to voice their concerns.
Hundreds of consumers, including both men and women from Kacharigaon under the jurisdiction of the Gossaigaon Sub-Divisional Electricity Office, encircled the office premises while chanting anti-government slogans.
The protesting consumers expressed frustration that instead of addressing the issues, the relevant authorities have been consistently increasing electricity bills, causing serious concern for consumers. Despite being aware of the problems, the authorities have allegedly failed to take action, possibly influenced by vested interests.
Consumers also highlighted that prior to the installation of smart meters, their electricity bills were reasonable. However, since the installation of smart meters to replace prepaid meters, the bills have doubled. They claimed that the authorities are arbitrarily determining electricity bills without conducting on-site visits to consumers’ residences. The protesters called for immediate reforms to address these issues and demanded fair and accurate billing practices.
