Tripura: Congress slams Smart Meter Policy; Demands withdrawal of charges

 The Pradesh Congress on Wednesday sharply criticised the state government’s push for smart meters, alleging that the move has burdened ordinary consumers with inflated electricity bills. 

Addressing reporters at the Pradesh Congress Headquarters in Agartala, party spokesperson Prabir Chakraborty accused the BJP-led government of misleading the public in the name of modernisation.

Chakraborty said the introduction of smart meters was being promoted as a step towards transparency and efficiency, but in reality, households were facing abnormally high bills despite unchanged consumption patterns. “Electricity is not a luxury; it is a basic necessity. When bills suddenly multiply without explanation, the government must answer,” he remarked, citing his own household’s experience of receiving unusually high charges.

He argued that technology should serve the people by making systems affordable and accountable, not by creating financial stress. “We are not against technology. But if smart meters are leading to unexplained hikes, then their use must be questioned,” Chakraborty said. He demanded that the government publish comparative data showing consumption and billing before and after installation, and conduct impartial investigations into complaints of inflated bills.

The Congress spokesperson went further, accusing Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath of spreading “false propaganda” about the benefits of smart meters. “If there were an award for misleading the public, he would deserve a gold medal,” Chakraborty quipped.

Alongside the demand to scrap smart meters, the Congress also called for withdrawal of additional charges imposed on consumers. Party leaders present at the press meet — including SC Department chairman Niranjan Das and Sadar district president Tanmoy Roy — backed the call, stressing that the issue has become a major source of public resentment.