Congress gherao at Vidyut Bhavan over forced smart metering, alleges inflated bills and lack of consent

Amid rising complaints over smart meter installation, the North 24 Parganas District Congress staged a gherao outside Vidyut Bhavan on Monday. Led by State Congress President Shubhankar Sarkar, the protest alleged that smart meters were being installed forcibly without consumer consent. The party claimed this had led to inflated electricity bills across several districts, including urban and suburban areas.

During the demonstration, Congress workers burned a symbolic smart meter and submitted a deputation to officials of the electricity department. Protesters demanded that the installation process be immediately halted until proper guidelines and consumer consultations are ensured. The Congress stated that people were not informed or asked before the meters were fixed, and this has triggered widespread unrest.

Shubhankar Sarkar said the protest would continue if the "unethical installation" is not stopped. He also urged the power department to provide clarity on the billing process, installation procedure, and redressal mechanisms for grievances. The protest witnessed participation from a large number of Congress workers and local residents.